Garden jobs to do in January
Winter is the perfect time for gardeners to take stock, protect plants, tidy up and plan for spring. It can feel quite gloomy in the garden. The flowers of high summer are all gone, the rain is here to stay and the change of the clocks has put paid to any hope of working in the evenings.
However, there is still so much to be done! Here are some ideas to keep you busy and lay the foundation for a great spring/summer next year and can be a more sustainable way to the garden as there are fewer seeds and crops wasted.
From looking after your garden tools to planting bulbs and splitting plants for the new seasons, getting outside in your garden in the winter months can be quite rewarding and give you a chance to breathe fresh air and stay positive. Just remember to wrap up warm and reward yourself with a nice warm drink afterwards!
Winter prune apple trees
Fruit trees are dormant now, so you can prune them. Remove diseased, dead, and damaged wood, and any instances of branches crossing and rubbing against each other – remove the weaker one. Wear a nice warm pair of gloves, use sharp, clean tools, and cut at an angle, so that the face of the cut angles to the ground, allowing rain to run off it and preventing it rotting.
Buy your seeds for spring
It’s still too early to dig, but it’s not too early to dream. Get your seeds bought now for any flowers and veg you are planning to grow this forthcoming season. We have an excellent range at Donington Nurseries.
Start sowing your veggies indoors
Sow Cavelo Nero, broad beans, winter salad and radish seeds, plant onions, leeks and garlic. Sow peas indoors to plant out in March or April and chit seed potatoes.
Top dress borders and Veg beds
Use well rotted manure, garden lime and soil conditioners to improve the soil ready for Spring planting
Divide Snowdrops
Snowdrops spread by seed and will expand about 1.5 inches in all directions per year. To help them spread more quickly, dig and divide them immediately after they’ve flowered and replanted about 11 inches apart. If you’re planting them from fresh, planting in the green in February is usually the best route to success.
What are the best plants to plant in winter from a wildlife perspective?
Winter is the best time to plant small trees, shrubs, climbers and hedging that will attract and help wildlife in the coming months ahead. For example, plant a Cotoneaster sternianus shrub to provide bees with summer nectar and birds with autumn berries; edge a border with a low hedge of lavender to feed bees and butterflies in summer; and plant a range of dense, evergreen climbers (such as ivy) and evergreen shrubs (such as Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ’n’ Gold’) to create shelter and nesting sites for birds.
Learn what to do at this time of year to help birds, bees and the other wildlife we share our gardens with.
And Finally…
For all your gardening tools, plants and accessories speak to our sales team at Donington Nurseries on 01332 853 004 today.