Seasonal gardening By Rosie Bunney


The ‘to do’ list is mercifully short at this time of year – which means it’s achievable. Given that most New Year jobs are less than thrilling, when at the end of the (also mercifully short) day, you squelch out of your wellies and put the kettle on, you’ll have the added bonus of feeling deeply virtuous.


Work out


Double digging to prepare beds for sowing has a range of benefits. Two spade depths of aerated and loosened soil gives roots a chance to thrive, and works off that double helping of Christmas pud and brandy butter.


Recycle Christmas


Shred your Christmas tree and it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Naked of baubles and tinsel its time has come to become mulch for the benefit of the rest of the garden.


Stick to one resolution


Habits are formed when practised about eight times so pick one thing you always mean to improve about your gardening year and do it until it’s a fixture.


Clean up


Sort through your pots and discard those cracked or broken. Clean the good ones with hot water and non- toxic cleaner, ready for sowing.


Last lawn look


Take a lawn rake and carry on what the good worms started by dispersing their wormy casts evenly across the lawn. The rain will do the rest.


Cruel to be kind


Enjoy the satisfying snap of the loppers as you prune apple and pear trees. It might seem the middle of winter to you but they’re about to get growing.


Grow crumble


Force rhubarb for dinner. Cover with an upturned pot with no light holes and it’ll be fooled into thinking its time has come. Which indeed it will, one Sunday lunch in the not too distant future.


Grab a gardener


For jobs that are beyond you – fencing, say, or pond digging – this is a good time to find a contractor who will be busier later in the year.


Slippery slope


Remove algae from paths. The relief of not having to pussyfoot around makes it so worth tackling this job now. In icy times beware of salt run- off. Plants aren’t keen.


January and February 2019 117


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