Lockdown Newsletter 10: Gardening Advice and Walking/Cycling Club

January offers a bit of slack in the gardening year but it’s a good time to tidy up the shed and garden. 

By the end of February, aim to have pruned your roses (to an outward facing bud) and removed last year’s top growth from perennials. Ahead of birds nesting in the spring, prune hedges to keep their shape. 

Make sure you cover your outdoor tap to protect from frost and try to keep off the lawn on icy days, so you don’t damage the grass. If you have a wisteria, to keep it manageable give it a winter prune to 2/3 buds per stem.


If you planted 
any winter pots keep an eye on them and pick off faded flowers to encourage more. You can buy pots of flowering bulbs that you can sink in the garden or bring indoors in a bright but cool spot. We defy anyone not to be cheered by a pot of daffodils. 

If you have a pond and it freezes you should make a hole so wildlife can survive but don’t whack the ice, try standing a pan of hot water on it until it melts through and remember to feed the birds and clean bird boxes. 

If you’re overwintering plants in a greenhouse it helps to line the inside windows with bubble wrap and be sparing with watering. The plants aren’t actively growing and just need to tick over. 

Look out for snowdrops and get out in the garden on sunny days and enjoy what you have. If you disturb the soil, we’ll bet a robin notices and comes to investigate... always a welcome sight.

Walking and Cycling Groups 

Some of us having been getting out when the weather allows. Here’s a sample of lovely photos taken in January. How lucky we are to have such lovely countryside on our doorstep. 

 


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