Head Gardener's Notes: Winter 2026

After a wet and warm Autumn, the new year started with freezing temperatures and heavy rain. This makes some of the winter tasks challenging in a garden with so many grass paths, as everything can turn into mud very quickly. But as the saying goes, “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”!

The gardens also featured in the More4, ‘Great Estates From Above’ TV series (still available on Channel 4 streaming). Recommended viewing as the programme gives a good insight into the workings of Penshurst Place Estate, although, of course, the gardens are the most important!

We have taken advantage of the cold and frozen ground to rearrange our compost system with new bays being built behind the scenes and getting manure onto some of the beds (when not frozen). We have also been preparing for changes to the Heraldic garden and the old rose trellis in the Nut garden, of which more in future dispatches.

With snow drops showing in the nut garden and church terrace, we are starting to turn towards Spring with the last of the Winter hard pruning taking place. This has involved reducing some of the old apple trees and thinning others. Roses have all been reduced to prevent wind rock and climbers are being pruned back - this is something you can do for a few weeks yet, but don’t leave it too late.

After our second Gold Award from Britain in Bloom in the Heritage Garden section, we will be creating a new information point, so we can tell you about garden news as it happens. This will be in the ‘Old Action for the Blind Garden’, which started life as a Chelsea show garden, before Lord De L’Isle brought it here. You will find it just inside the gates separating the garden from the playground.

In late spring the first of the garden workshops will take place, ‘Veg growing for beginners’ and will be the first of a series of garden workshops this year. We are also seeking help with the rose trellis, so if you are interested keep an eye on our social media and website for details. 

Tasks for late winter/ early spring:

• Mulch beds
• Hard prune shrubs and deciduous hedges (check them on the RHS site as they can’t all be done now).
• Prune climbing roses to reduce wind rock.
• Winter prune Wisteria
• Order seeds
• And if you are prepared to work harder later in the year (to catch up), stay inside, keep warm and read garden books!

Tony Wiseman, Head Gardener

February 2026