January Walled Garden Update
Start Of The Year Catch Up
Over the last few months we have been introducing you to local gardens and gardeners while Kate has been on maternity leave and the articles seem to have been really well received. We are going to continue this series until Kate returns, but with the start of the year we thought it might be worth giving you and update on what has been happening in the garden while Kate has been away.
Kate works with Shona, who joined us last Spring and has been an amazing addition to the small team that we have. We have been astounded by what she has achieved while pretty much being on her own. We do have Andrew and Jim who come to help out with the larger ‘two people’ jobs, but she has been great at just getting on with things.
Some of the changes and tasks Shona, Andrew and Jim have achieved are:
Lowering the level of the cut flower beds for to make it easier to keep the grass neat and tidy. We have decided to start growing vegetables again so two of the beds are going to be for that and the rest will be planted with cut flower plants grown from seed this year.
The large Holly hedge has had a rather big trim. It is quite a big job, but it is looking good and needed it. We also cut the tall Acer hedge at the end of last year.
Starting to cut back the main central borders ready for new growth to come through in a few months, although there is already signs of this. The Robins were loving helping Shona with this.
Planting 800 daffodil bulbs in the lower central borders. It is quite late in the season to plant them, but they will be fine. As long as the soil is not frozen, January is not too late to plant daffodils. Our Tulips were planted in November for the seasonal displays in large pots as well as in glasshouse beds for a splash of colour. Some were planted in border gaps and as the squirrels are likely to munch some of them, we generally plant more than we want.
Some seeds have been sown in Autumn for early plantings in Spring and are doing well indoors. We planted Sweet Peas, Antirrhinum and Tomatoes so far with more to come as Spring approaches. Outdoors the Broad Beans, Onions and Carrots have been sown.
To Do:
January is a good time to organise and clean your sheds, glasshouses and pots and plan ahead for the coming season. Things you still may need to do are to decide what seeds you still need to get or plan out any new border displays. Outdoor jobs like pruning fruit trees, roses and Wisteria will keep you busy on sunny days as well as enjoying the first glimpses of early bulbs like Snowdrops, Crocus and Daffodils.
We are looking forward to welcoming some of you in February when the snowdrops will be out.