January: preparing your garden for the year to come
Since this is our first blog of the year we would like to offer you our best wishes for the New Year. We hope you will continue to enjoy our designer chairs and tables, accessories and everything we offer, along with our gardening tips.
A new year comes but in the garden some things remain the same. Seasons pass, plants grow, and we need to take care of them. There is always something to do in your garden. Since last year saw shortages of vegetables you may have decided to grow your own, which is a great idea. It allows you to decide exactly what you want to grow and you get to grow organic vegetables if you want.
How much space do you have?
Before starting gardening you need to ask yourself some questions: how big is your garden or your balcony? How much do you want to use as an extension of your home and how much do you want to use to grow plants, flowers or otherwise?
If you have the chance to have a garden you probably want to use it as an outdoor dining room when the weather allows it, set up with tables, chairs and so much more – Fermob has amazing products fitting all your needs, even side tables to make your life easier. You can even have some place for a hammock or a sunbed. The sun will come back one day, after all!
If you only have a balcony we have a range of products to fit your needs to bring some green shoots of life to wherever you live.
What do you want to grow?
Now is the time to think about this. Do you want to grow flowers and which ones, herbs, vegetables or if your garden allows it, trees? If you buy seeds you can read on the pack when they need planting. If you plan on getting really busy in your garden you can draw up an action plan to make sure you don’t forget anything.
Let’s get some action!
Now that your mind is set on what you want to grow, where and when, what can you do, right now?
Plant trees and shrubs
Plant trees are to be planted in winter, between November and March. If the soil of your garden is not frozen you can plant fruit trees, and remember to have either male and female trees or self-pollinating trees if you want fruit. You can also check the ties and stakes of your newly planted trees since the wind might have loosened the soil around your young trees.
Winter is also the time to plant bare-root roses, just make sure you protect them from frost.
You can start growing tomato seeds indoor, home-grown tomatoes are so much better than shop-bought ones. You can also be creative and try new varieties!
Apply fertiliser
It is pretty easy to make homemade fertiliser like compost or ash but you can also buy some. Next month is mulching time so while you order now mulch to have some for February, make sure you fertilise your plants before mulching. If you have time and space you can turn your Christmas tree into mulch or add it to your compost.
Pruning
Give a new “do” to your plants. Prune berry bushes, get rid of lower branches that you suspect will touch the ground in high season, cut out dead or unproductive stems and keep the central, strong branches.
Prune trees too and if you want to train your apple and pear trees as espalier you can start doing it now. It demands some more effort but it is not only ornamental, it also has many benefits, such as helping your fruit receive more light and therefore become tastier, making it easier to protect it from frost and birds and helping you pick your fruit once they’re ripe.
Dispose of dead flowers and leaves. You can either use them for compost or use the leaves as mulch
Get prepared for busier days
Check that your garden machinery is in working condition or have it fixed. Get rid of dead fruit and vegetable you harvested last year, and make sure seeds are ready to be sown. Some seeds deteriorate quickly so you may have to buy fresh ones.
These are just a few ideas and advice, we would love to hear what your top January gardening tips are, please feel free to comment below!
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Posted by Iconography Ltd
4th January 2013
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