gardens
GARDEN JOBS
Here are some of the top jobs to be getting on with in the garden this month... 1. Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover Knowing which vegetables to sow where, when and how means you can maintain constant supplies throughout the season.
Snowdrops can be divided 'in the green' after flowering
2. Chit potato tubers It’s important with earlies, and a good idea with maincrops, to ‘chit’ the seed potatoes before planting. This means allowing them to start sprouting shoots. 3. Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches When fruit trees start into growth in spring, flowers and buds are vulnerable to frost and may need protection to crop well. 4. Cover veg with netting if pigeons are a problem. Pigeons peck at leaves, tearing them, often just leaving the stalks and larger leaf veins behind. To avoid accidentally trapping or injuring birds and other animals, always ensure netting is kept taut, and check regularly for holes 5. Prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering Deciduous shrubs that flower in late
Chit potato tubers so they are ready to plant out
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winter, such as forsythia, need annual pruning to encourage strong, healthy shoots and improve flowering. 6. Divide snowdrops and other bulbs 'in the green' This method is often used for snowdrops (Galanthus) and snowflakes (Leucojum) as they do not re-establish well when planted as dry bulbs. Rhizomes of wood anemone may also fail to establish when planted in a dry state, as may the bulbs of the bluebell. 7. Give wisteria its winter prune Cut back to two or three buds in
January or February (when the plant is dormant and leafless) to tidy it up before the growing season starts this ensures the flowers will not be obscured by leaves. 8. Cut back deciduous grasses Ornamental grasses fall into two main groups, evergreen and deciduous. Deciduous grasses need cutting back annually so that they will look their best - this is best done in late winter before the new growth emerges. Evergreens just require a tidy-up and the removal of dead grass. 9. Keep up with your general maintenance Take action to remove algae from paths if they start to become slippery. If we get snow, gently remove it from glasshouses and conservatories to prevent damage to the glass and allow good light penetration. 10. Feed the birds In winter provide foodstuffs with a high fat content to help keep birds warm. Feed regularly too so they won’t waste vital energy visiting your garden when there is no food.
