BY SALLY EDWARDS
Design Your Garden Life
This could be the year of the garden. Covid-19 defined 2020 and although it was devastating for many of us, the weather was kind and an interest in gardening grew like never before with garden centres enjoying a thriving business. We realise we need outdoor space and nature to enrich our lives.
Let’s take a good look at our garden and decide what we need from it, in a deeply personal way. Think about the new design of your life. Is there a sitting area that could be defined better, a view that could be revealed, a butt or bin that could be beautifully concealed by planting, or even a windowsill that can showcase your favourite flower?
Get the Knives Out
In January we can start pruning and tidying: roses (15-45cm from base), clematis, wisteria (longer stems only above 2-3 buds), some fruit trees (raspberries, apples, pears, gooseberries), willows, sedum and hellebore. Double check the rules on your specific plants before snipping as not all plants can be pruned until later in Spring. Try to remember where daffodil and tulip bulbs are – my husband mowed over ours in the past and lopped their leaves off! If plants can be left to flow, then less pruning is best for nature, but if you must prune, now may be the time.
Begin Again
If not frosty, then plant new fruit trees outdoors and start sewing seeds indoors in pots, such as broad-beans, broccoli, kale, salad onions, lettuce, cabbages and tomatoes. If you started vegetable growing last year WELL DONE! Perhaps stick to what worked well and perfect your techniques. You know it tastes better than the shop bought stuff.
Get a Headstart
Weed the beds so you can see the clearly defined space you have to play with, and plan properly. Draw what you dream about, and research into plants that combine well, in colour, size and shape. Some plants work well together such as lavender or thyme which buddy up with roses. Their scent keeps aphids (greenfly and blackfly) away whilst still providing a welcoming environment for beneficial insects. It’s good to buddy up plants and create a circle of life in your garden world.
I hope these ideas and timely tips help kickstart your new year. Every day is a new day in the garden and it’s all for you to explore. Keep it growing!