Norfolk School of Gardening: The value of bricklaying

We have nearly finished clearing and weeding the veg patch and we’ve marked out new beds and paths.

We will be mulching next to protect the soil over the winter, but in the meantime we will be discussing our plans with participants on this week’s Your Veg Patch course, as well as sowing broad bean seeds for next year.

Over in the ornamental garden we continued cutting back and lifting plants which had spread or which, like Iris sibirica, have clumped up and then died back in the middle of the clump.

We have been giving away lots of plants to people on courses over the past couple of weeks.

Veg patch clearing autumn (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

We have also been marking the spot where each of our dahlias are planted while they are still very much in evidence.

We are going to leave them in the ground this winter and will mulch them once the first frost has killed off the leaves, but we want to be able to monitor their progress in the spring, just in case there is a slug invasion like last year.

The last Basic Bricklaying course of the year took place on what promised to be a rainy day.

The forecast was wrong, but everyone was very focused on learning the key skills then building a corner with seven courses of bricks.

The participants headed off at the end of the day with plans to put their newfound skills into practice over the weekend, building retaining walls and raised beds, as well as repointing existing walls.

Bricklaying is a fantastic skill for a gardener, and this is always a popular course.

If you would like to join us on the next one in March do get in touch.

This term’s Introduction to Garden Design ended on a high with presentations by each student of the designs they have been working on over the past few weeks.

It was fantastic to see just how much they had learned and what different but equally lovely designs they had come up with, all working to the same client brief for the same garden.

Some of them plan to return to do the Diploma in Garden Design, but most have gone away armed with the skills and resources to begin design projects in their own gardens.

Bricklaying October 25 (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

Very exciting.

We start this course again in January and there are currently a couple of spaces left.

If you would like to join us for a Christmas Wreath Workshop in a few weeks’ time don’t leave it any longer to book your slot.

The workshops are filling up fast now.

These are some of the other courses in the next few weeks which have spaces available.

· Renovation Pruning – 13th November

· Pruning Shrubs & Roses – 19th November

· Fruit Tree Care – 20th November

· Developing an Annual Maintenance Plan – 26th November

· Christmas Wreath Workshops – 28th November, 4th & 5th December

Euonymus europaeus (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

Plant of the Week

Euonymus europaeus, commonly known as the spindle tree, is a native deciduous shrub or small tree valued for its striking autumn display.

In summer, it bears small greenish flowers, followed by vivid pink fruit capsules that split open to reveal bright orange seeds—highly decorative and loved by birds.

The leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow before falling, adding a fiery splash to hedgerows or mixed borders.

It grows best in full sun or light shade and well-drained soil.

Hardy and easy to grow, it can reach up to 3 metres and tolerates pruning well after fruiting.