When you look out on a drab January/February day, the garden is not an inviting proposition but, there are a number of jobs that can be very rewarding, especially if the sun makes an appearance...
- Preparing your soil. Soil health is so important. By checking and feeding your soil, you encourage the microbes which work hard to give your plants all the right nutrients, retain moisture and prevent pests and diseases from attacking. Remove perennial weeds, cut back, divide and mulch. Mulch can take many forms and is a personal choice. A bit of advice – don’t dig it in, let the worms do the work.
- Plan for the year ahead. Look at your borders and split herbaceous plants that have grown too big, or move them entirely. Create new spaces. Order seeds, plants and bare-rooted shrubs and trees.
- Prune fruit trees, fruit bushes and roses as well as some hardwood shrubs. The general rule for pruning is to remove the dead, diseased and damaged stems and branches, any crossing branches. Cut to an outside bud and think about the shape. If a shrub is getting too big, take it back by a third and continue to do this over a 3 year period.
- Clean your greenhouse. The growing season is about to begin and start with a clean and tidy space to grow your seeds and nurture young plants.
- Clean pots and seed trays ready for the sowing season.
- Most of all – see gardening at this time of year as a good positive energising activity from which you’ll reap the rewards throughout the rest of the season.
