Rather than making and then breaking resolutions, let’s use January to think about just one thing you’d like to achieve in your garden this year. Of course, there will be dozens of things, but if you can make one of them happen, then you’re a winner.
The answer could be relatively simple. Even changing your garden chairs can shift the emphasis of your space. Painting a wall or fences makes a huge difference. Top tip: if you want to create a feature wall, then use a bright colour for instant impact. To make a boundary stand out less, choose black or very dark colours.
If you prefer the lawn to dictate the atmosphere of a garden, concentrate on crisp, neat edges. Ensure the shape is right. Rather than fiddly curves and angles, go for larger-scale sweeps that make the desired shape more obvious. For a more formal look, ensure your lines are completely straight, with precise angles.
Erecting a screen or clever planting will help ensure you can’t see the whole garden at a glance. Both you and your visitors will be tempted to explore, which makes the garden feel more exciting. A focal point could be a statue or a specimen tree.
Happy New Year Hacks
When planting bulbs, annuals or perennials in large containers, consider including an upside-down plastic pot inside the larger one. It reduces the volume of compost required and helps to keep the drainage holes clear. It also makes the container lighter and easier to move.
If you’re purchasing perennials as container plants, choose the largest you can find and split them. You’ll get two or three plants for the price of one.
Did you know that bees can see purple and blue more clearly than other colours? They appreciate Verbena bonariensis, lavender, Aubrieta, Hebe, Buddleja and Nepeta (catmint).
In an architectural, colour-themed garden which might be mainly green, include an element of biodiversity. Wildlife will thank you for green shrubs that also provide flowers, flowering perennials, and bulbs that complement the theme.
Plants in pots benefit from being raised off the ground during winter. It keeps them a little warmer and helps to prevent pot-cracks. Use pot feet, or cut some small, flat pieces of wood, such as decking.
Consider putting coffee filter paper in the bottom of pots before filling them with compost, to keep the ground cleaner underneath and the drainage holes unobstructed.
You can make your own fertiliser using nettles, comfrey, dandelions and even the water left over from cooking rice. Put the plants into a bucket, top it up with water and leave it for two weeks. Remove the plant matter, dilute the mixture and use it on leafy plants or vegetables for a nitrogen boost.
Did you know you should tailor plant food for the required purpose? The three essential nutrients most important to plants are: nitrogen (N), which stimulates leaf growth; phosphorus (P), for strong root growth; and potassium (K) – also called potash – to feed developing flowers and fruit.
Prepare for the growing season by making a garlic spray to deter plant pests. Grate a head of garlic, steep it in a litre of boiling water, then allow it to stand for 12 hours. Strain and add more water, plus a little mild soap. Keep the spray handy for the first sign of nibbling.
