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Happy New Year from Grosvenor
The festivities are over and one of the best ways of reducing your increased waistline is to get out into the garden.
Gardening is a great way to lose a few pounds whilst also benefiting from plenty of fresh air, and one of the first jobs you could do is to plant your pot grown Christmas tree in a sunny spot. If your tree was a cut tree, recycle it by shredding it and using as mulch on your borders and beds.
One of the main points to remember this month is that your garden needs plenty of protection. The weather can play havoc with plants and young trees especially in very cold, frosty weather and wind and heavy rain can easily cause considerable damage. Use fleece and stakes to protect and stabilise tender plants. We all love to see snow – especially if you are staying indoors! – but you really should keep watch so that any heavy snowfalls can be brushed off branches to avoid weight damage and snapping.
January is one of the few months where we advise you to keep off the grass, except to brush away fallen leaves. Leaves provide shelter for wildlife such as snails and slugs so should be cleared away as much as possible and remember to recycle and make leaf compost. Prevent leaves from clogging up ponds by placing netting over the top.
Protect terracotta planters from penetrating hard frosts by wrapping them in bubble wrap or hessian to prevent them cracking and allowing the frost to freeze the soil and kill plant roots. Move exposed pots to sheltered positions and stand them on pot stands or feet to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.
Certain perennials can be cut back at this time of year, encouraging new shoots for spring by removing old growth. And January is a great time to move shrubs that are not suited to, or have outgrown, their current position. Transplant using as large a rootball as possible, prepare the soil using compost, mulch and plenty of water and ensure the shrub is planted firmly.
New fruit trees and bushes, together with raspberries and cane plants, can all be planted now.
Once again, we must remind you to keep feeding birds and wildlife. It really is so important this month so always hang out fat balls and wild bird seed to ensure the birds receive enough food and nutrients even in this coldest month of January. A fresh bowl of water should also be put out each day but make sure bird baths and fresh drinking water do not freeze over.
Houseplants do not generally need as much watering in the colder months, but make sure they do not dry out completely.
Enjoy experimenting in the kitchen with tasty winter staples and harvest sprouting broccoli, sprouts and leeks and any remaining parsnips, swede and turnips. Onions can be sown now in a heated propagator ready for planting in March. And you can also germinate lettuces, radishes, salad onions, cabbages and cauliflowers now. Germinate on a windowsill for now and then grow in the greenhouse for planting in February.
January Tips
1. Plant your Christmas tree in the garden or recycle for mulch.
2. Protect tender plants from Jack Frost!
3. Move houseplants away from dry heat sources such as radiators.
4. Harvest winter vegetables.
5. Make sure your bird feeders are topped up to keep tummies full in January.
