Want to get your gardening fix without being out in the cold for too long? There are plenty of quick things to do now to keep you going…
It may be cold and wet outside but you can still take on some bite-sized gardening jobs that will get you ready for the new season. These quick and easy tasks will keep your garden or plants in shape – even if you only have 10 minutes to spare. Of course, some jobs may take a little longer, but can be broken down into short chunks and tackled a bit at a time, such as cleaning the greenhouse in stages, or just pruning one plant a day. So banish those winter blues and get those green fingers working!
CLEAN THE GREENHOUSE
Dirt can build up on glass or plastic panes, blocking precious light to overwintering plants in your greenhouse. Consistent damp weather is a catalyst for mould and fungal diseases, so fill a bucket with warm water and add a splash of washing up liquid or Jeyes Fluid. Give the greenhouse a good wash down inside and out, clean panes and remove leaves from gutters. JOBST
PLAN SPRING CROPS
Winter is a great time to take stock of last year’s fruit and vegetable successes and failures. Sit down with a pad and plan your 2024 crop rotations. Try something new; why not create a herb garden or plant a fruit tree?
WASH YOUR POTS
Pots and seed trays can get tired after a year of grow-your-own action, so wash them in a tub of warm soapy water, scraping off dirt and cobwebs with a brush, then flush in cold water to remove soap suds. Terracotta pots take a bit more elbow grease. Salts and minerals from hard water or fertilisers can build up, leaving a white residue, so gently scrub to remove.
ORDER SEEDS
Compile a wish list of plants to grow this year, from fab florals to exciting edibles. Tried and tested favourites are always good staples in the garden but why not give something new a go? Choose annuals for instant gratification or perennials for a long-term investment. Get cosy on the sofa with a cuppa and go through this season’s seed catalogues.
CLEAR OLD, DEAD FOLI AGE
Perennial stems and foliage provide prime habitat for overwintering insects, but frosty mornings and rain will eventually reduce this garden material to mush. Some foliage may be removed by hand or take a sharp pair of snips to chop off brittle stems and leaves.
PRUNE MID TO LATE-SUMMER-FLOWERING CLEM ATIS
Prune these clematis to the lowest pair of buds around 30cm from the base. Flowering on new growth, these climbers will turn into a tangled mess if left unpruned, resulting in flowers developing only on the uppermost stems and leaving vast bare areas below. Grab your secateurs and remove all the old material.
FEED THE BIRDS
Birds need high-energy, high-fat foo
