Gardener's Diary            January

Fifty seventh edition - January 2006   

The festive season has passed (as quickly as ever) and it is time for giving thought to some serious gardening for this brand new year.. No garden is complete without at least one ornament such as a sundial or birdbath, to make the space uniquely yours. Shop around now for what you'll need in the spring to personalize your lawn, garden, and flower beds. Some ideas here.

First jobs for the new year are ones that can be undertaken in the shelter of your shed or greenhouse, and will be time well spent.. Get the garden tools sharpened, cleaned and oiled ready for spring, and the lawn mower cleaned and serviced. Don`t forget to clean and disinfect the greenhouse too. Flowerpots (like coat hangers) tend to multiply and one of my local garden centres is always happy for me to take them back to them for re-use. It's always satisfying when these jobs have been done!   

This January get creative in the shed.  Build a birdhouse or two. Paint garden furniture. Build a composting bin, so you can do your bit on the recycling front.. Then add a handful of red worms to help turn your vegetable peelings etc. into rich compost for the garden.

Don't forget your house plants! Dust on the foliage can clog the leaf pores, so clean them up a little with a damp cloth, and on very cold nights, close the curtains or blinds to give an extra layer of protection between the windows and plants. Houseplants need very little water this time of year. If you were given bulbs and plants for Christmas, follow the growing instructions for an early indoor spring! If you didn`t get any Christmas plants, treat yourself to a bowl of hyacinths that are almost in flower. The house will smell delightful for a couple of weeks!

• Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, onion sowing is going ahead for the "big ones".

• You can help your pond fish by removing any dead leaves floating on the water.

• Don't forget food and water for the birds, but not the sort of food that will encourage foxes and rats to your garden!

• Continue sweeping up leaves if only to get some exercise!

• If we have icy weather and you put rock salt on the ground, take care it doesn`t get near your plants.

Thompson & Morgan seeds have added some wonderful new seeds for 2006, two of which I feature here.. African Marigold 'Simba'  New for 2006, African Marigold 'Simba'  offers a flower type which is rarely seen in African Marigolds. Adding height and interest to the border at 90cm (3ft), African Marigold 'Simba' bears intriguing incurved, bright orange blooms which curiously resemble a lion`s mane, hence its name. Click here
Petunia 'Purple Velvet' F1 Hybrid Gardeners` dream come true, The Surfinia Petunia from seed! This is the best trailing Petunia for baskets that Thompson & Morgan has ever seen, and so vigorous there is enough seed in a single packet to raise plants to fill three hanging baskets or patio containers - costing only £2.99  Click here

Going for a walk?

People have been campaigning for more open access to the countryside for well over 100 years. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) has been introduced in direct response to this, to create new recreational opportunities for all.

The CROW Act creates a new right of access to some of the finest countryside in England. From 31 October 2005 members of the public are able to walk across large areas of land across the whole of England.

See here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/cl/accessopen/index.htm 

Take the opportunity to go for a winter walk with the National Trust ..  Wonderful scenery and superb places to visit, any time of the year.. Some of the most visited National Trust properties are now holding regular farmers' and food markets. Click here for details

RHS gardens

Their four flagship gardens not only provide year-round interest and offer a wide range of courses, talks and demonstrations, they also demonstrate the best gardening practices, new techniques and exciting new plants to try in your garden.

• Visit Wisley in Surrey
• Visit Rosemoor in Devon
• Visit Hyde Hall in Essex
• Visit Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire

Or go to their website for a diary of all other events at:-    http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/index.asp

Thompson & Morgan 

Visit  www.thompson-morgan.com where full information is available on their product varieties and orders can be taken on-line.  Have a look to see what is new and any special seasonal offers

Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB

Royal Botanic Gardens
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Nr Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6TN