Winter work persists at the renowned Sissinghurst garden: explore the icy Sissinghurst, and witness the tasks that occupy the gardeners
Nestled within 470 acres of Wealden landscape, the enchanting garden at Sissinghurst Castle is a haven for nature lovers and garden enthusiasts alike. The garden, once reinvested with life by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, boasts a harmonious blend of flowers, farm, and woodland.
One of the most significant winter activities at Sissinghurst is rose pruning. This meticulous task is primarily carried out in late winter or early spring, just as buds begin to swell but before leaves unfurl. The technique, introduced by Jack Vass, is crucial to the garden's continued success, as it ensures the plants recover quickly and produce abundant blooms.
The general guideline for rose pruning is to remove about one-third of the rose plant, cutting out any dead, weak, or diseased wood, especially stems thinner than a pencil. This careful pruning helps shape the plant, encourages strong new growth, and promotes a tidy, healthy plant ready for the growing season.
The Burnet rose (Rosa spinosissima), a resilient variety that needs very little pruning, is a highlight of the winter garden. Its attractive and healthy foliage, early flowering, and good-looking hips make it a favourite among gardeners. A unique pruning technique for the Burnet rose involves bending shoots near to horizontal, which encourages flowers to break from every bud along the entire length of the bent stem.
Beyond rose pruning, Sissinghurst encourages a variety of winter gardening activities. Pruning of spring-flowering shrubs, cutting back herbaceous perennials, and maintaining general garden upkeep are all essential to the garden's structure and health going into the new growing season.
Winter is a season of deep immersion with the moment and surroundings at Sissinghurst. The sounds, smells, and light all have a distinctive winter flavour that adds to the garden's charm. Even the old nut coppice comes alive, with the pale-yellow form of the wood anemone, A. x lipsiensis, growing among the skeletal perennials, acting as a duvet upon which other small flowering bulbs rest.
The garden has allowed native wildings to gently colonise and share beds of exotics, creating a unique and beautiful landscape that continues to evolve with each passing season. The reintroduction of a pond at the garden entrance in recent years adds to the serenity and harmony of this historic garden.
References: [1] Sissinghurst Castle Garden (2021). Rose pruning at Sissinghurst. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/features/rose-pruning-at-sissinghurst [2] National Trust (2021). Winter gardening at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/features/winter-gardening-at-sissinghurst [3] National Trust (2021). Burnet rose. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/features/burnet-rose [4] National Trust (2021). Winter activities at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/features/winter-activities-at-sissinghurst [5] National Trust (2021). Winter garden maintenance at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/features/winter-garden-maintenance-at-sissinghurst
- The harmonious blend of flowers, farm, and woodland at Sissinghurst Castle's gardens is the result of regular pruning activities, such as rose pruning, carried out by garden designers.
- The Burnet rose, a favorite among gardeners, thrives in the winter gardens of Sissinghurst, thanks to its unique pruning technique and resilience.
- Winter gardening lifestyle at Sissinghurst Castle involves more than just rose pruning; it encompasses pruning of spring-flowering shrubs, cutting back herbaceous perennials, and general garden upkeep.
- The enchanting garden at Sissinghurst Castle, nestled within the Wealden landscape, provides a serene environment for home-and-garden enthusiasts, who can appreciate the convergence of nature's beauty and garden designers' expertise.
- Landscape architects have allowed native wildings to colonize the gardens at Sissinghurst Castle, creating a stunning and evolving tapestry, blending exotic plants with native species amidst the tranquil surroundings.
