Gardens can be a source of pride, but they can also be so much more. Your garden has the potential to improve the sustainability of your home and help cut carbon emissions.
Now we’re into February, it’s time to start preparing for spring. Here are some pointers on what you can do to get your garden in tip-top shape.
Make it colourful
Flowerbeds add colour and splendour to your garden. By preparing your seeds now, you’ll have beds of beautiful blooming flowers to enjoy when spring arrives. What’s more, all those buds are more than decoration. Flowerbeds are vital food banks for bees and help reduce carbon emissions too.
Add your own sweet touch
Have you ever thought about growing your own fruit or veg? For example, rhubarb is easy to grow and really tasty. Gardening is a great way to release stress and stay healthy. Better still, it’s also great for the environment and helps give nature a helping hand.
Go wild
If you’ve got a lot of space then why not let nature do its thing. A trim now and then will keep your garden looking neat, while it’ll also become a haven for all kinds of wildlife.
How you can do your bit for the wildlife
During the harsh winter months, birds can find it hard to source food and a safe place to rear their chicks. The simple addition of a birdhouse and nut and seed feeders could make a big difference to their survival.
Clean up finished and dead plants – As well as becoming an eye-sore, they can also harbour disease and pests.
Remove all weeds – it prevents them from spreading and sprouting again later in the year.
Prepare your soil for spring – enrich your soil by adding nutrients to it, like manure, then cover with sheeting to protect it through the frosty nights.
Divide and plant bulbs – gently lift bulbs, separate, then plant elsewhere in your garden.
Replenish mulch – add a thick layer of mulch to the soil surface and around root vegetables. This’ll help regulate soil temperatures and moisture. As the mulch breaks down it will add fresh organic material into your soil.
Clean and sharpen your tools – winter is the perfect time to give your tools some attention and get them ready for the growing seasons ahead – remove dirt and rust to keep them in good order.
Growing is more difficult when light is at its minimum and frosts are common. Here are some tips on what to plant each month:
January
Outdoors: garlic and shallots.
Indoors (if in a heated environment): tomatoes and aubergines.
February
Outdoors: broad beans, parsnips cabbages and turnips. Rhubarb can also be forced for the sweetest stalks.
March
Outdoors: asparagus, onions, potatoes and artichokes.
April
Outdoors: strawberries, French beans, sweetcorn and lettuce.
Indoors: celery, cucumbers and tomatoes.
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