As another year rolls around my thoughts inevitably turn to planning what to do in the garden, what vegetables and annual flowers to grow and more importantly how I am going to use my garden for relaxation and entertainment. After all it’s really just another room of the house, a space where, in the better weather we can enjoy the company of plants and friends. Sorting out and tidying up the areas where we sit and entertain, taking note of planted beds that need refreshing.
It’s really too early to be sowing seeds as most of them will need protection and warmer temperatures to germinate and grow well, so unless you have a heated greenhouse leave sowing until later in spring.
I try to be very organised, cleaning tools before I put them away in the shed, and always placing them in the space allocated or on their respective hooks. Unfortunately the pace of gardening throughout the spring and summer mean that I am often rushing to put my tools away after my last call from Sue to come in for tea. Often resulting in them being rather hurriedly bundled in to the tool shed which inevitably leads to considerable frustration next time I need a trowel that is no where to be seen. Despite me brushing all the soil off and wiping with an oily rag there always seems to be some implements that are missed so on a dry day in January I like to pull all the tools out of the shed, sweep the floor and put them all back in their proper place, any that need attention like edging shears are taken down to the workshop for sharpening or repair. There is a certain pleasure in restoring the sharp edge on shears in the calm of my workshop with the sound of pounding rain on the roof knowing that edging the lawn in spring will be a dream.
If like me your toolshed is timber framed then it’s a good idea to check that the wood is still in good condition, replace rotten or damaged boards and on a mild day applying a wood treatment to keep the shed in good condition.
Choosing vegetable and flower seed for the coming year is quite daunting, there are so many different varieties and colours that make it quite challenging to decide what to grow. I find a note book essential in the garden and have a small pocket sized one and a pencil with me all the time in the garden, making notes of what jobs I need to do and what plants we have enjoyed.
With regard to vegetables we grow what we like to eat which seems logical. Collections offered free with magazines often have varieties that you either don’t have the space to grow or don’t like, although I guess you can always give them away. We like to grow salad leaves and herbs, some from seed and some bought as young plants, a little planning will ensure that you have a plentiful supply for most of the year. Joining a local gardening group can be a brilliant source of support and guidance especially if you are new to gardening. Many of the groups now provide online advice with websites, social media and in many cases talks and workshops on ‘zoom’ so you don’t have to leave home to enjoy their activities.
Even through the coldest months some bulbs provide interest with the earliest being snowdrops and winter aconites and some crocus species. All easy bulbs to grow requiring little attention they multiply quite quickly and before long you will be rewarded with drifts of colour when the rest of the garden is still looking quite drab. You can often find pots of early spring flowering bulbs for sale in nurseries and garden centres, a quick and easy way of introducing a little colour into the garden or container displays. Pots of bulbs bought for indoor display, including hyacinths and snowdrops can be placed outside when the flowers have faded. Choose a sheltered spot preferably close to the house wall, which will give them a little protection form the worst of the weather. Just let the foliage die down naturally and as the weather improves find a spot in the garden and just plant the whole contents of the pot in the ground, about 5cm (2inches) deeper than the depth of the pot. They should be fine and will hopefully flower next year, although a month or so later as pot grown bulbs for sale in flower are usually forced to flower a little earlier than they would naturally.
Happy New Year, Martin
Next month, (mulch and feed fruit trees, pruning shrubs and divide and repot mint.)
