What else can you do when Storm Darragh is blowing, your neighbours fence lies flat in your garden, and part of your roof is in their garden! You look forward to the start of lengthening days – the new year will be here by the time that you read this, and hopefully our roof will be fixed!
I say that days will be lengthening but, in truth, you don’t see any big change in daylength in January, so take the time on a rainy day to have a tidy up indoors. A line of hooks on the shed or garage will stop you imitating Tom and Jerry when you tread on a rake. Shears, spades and the like can be cleaned and sharpened, whilst hedge trimmers and lawnmowers will benefit from a service.
It is still too early to sow most seeds, but chillis are an exception. They need a long growing season so can be sown thinly onto seed compost now, watered and placed in a heated propagator. They’ll take a week or two to germinate, but once the second pair of leaves have appeared they can be potted on into individual pots. Around about April they will need potting on again.
Out in the garden you should try to avoid treading on wet soil as much as possible, as you’ll only compact it. Having said that, there are things you can do if the ground isn’t frozen;
- Bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees are much cheaper to buy than the potted versions that will be available later in the year. They can be planted now.
- You can increase your stock of some perennials by taking root cuttings. Oriental poppies, phlox, Japanese anemones and verbascums can all be propagated in this way.
- Move any deciduous shrubs (the ones that lose their leaves in winter) that are in the wrong place. If they’ve got too big they may not transplant successfully, so you’ve got a decision to make – remove them or live with them, perhaps having pruned them. If they need a major prune then do it gradually, over 2 or 3 winters.
- Prune apple and pear trees. Ideally create a ‘goblet’ shape by removing the central branches..
- Gooseberries and redcurrants can be pruned by cutting sideshoots back to three buds from their base. Blackcurrants are pruned by removing entirely about a quarter of the old stems.
- Compost dead bits of perennials that have gone mushy. The woody bits can still be left to enjoy if we have any frosts.
- Clear any deep piles of fallen leaves that have collected on flower beds, as they’ll smother smaller plants.
- Sort out your seeds. Throw away any out of date packets, and order in what you want for the coming year. Don’t forget the Churchill seed swap in the old telephone box on Front Street!
Lastly, don’t waste your winter mistletoe; you can press the berries into the bark of apple trees and try and establish your own mistletoe plants.
Garden visits using the Churchill and Langford minibus will resume in February…..
Churchill and Langford Minibus visits
Sunday 23 February 2025
Minibus fare £9 (Garden entry £10 including tea and cake)
This is a private visit to a small garden in South Gloucestershire. The owner is a true galanthophile (snowdrop lover!) and the garden should be awash with spring flowers. The owner will guide us through her garden, and then provide tea and cake, which is included in the £10 garden entry charge.
Saturday 15th March 2025
Lower Shalford Farm & Forest Lodge, Wincanton
Minibus fare £9 (Garden entry £10)
Forest Lodge is a 3 acre mature garden with a lake, spring bulbs and flowering trees. Many camellias and rhododendrons flower from March till May. Interesting garden sculpture. Lower Shalford Farm is has extensive lawns and wooded surroundings, with drifts of daffodils in spring. Small stream running through with several stone bridges.
We will visit both gardens if we have time. Both are included in the £10 entry fee, and cake is available at both too.
For bookings, please email or call; john.simmons3462@gmail.com , 07855-944049.