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   ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR JANUARY



  • Clean and sharpen mowers, shears and other tools

  • Mulch around fruit trees and established plants

  • Protect phormiums, cordylines and other tender plants by wrapping them with
    bubble polythene or horticultural fleece

  • Clean out your greenhouse wash down hard surfaces using Armillatox

  • Keep an area of your pond ice-free

  • Don ’ t forget to leave out food and water for our Native Wild Birds

TOPICAL TIPS FOR JANUARY


Flower Garden



  • Tidy up your borders if you didn't do it in the autumn and put the debris
    on the compost heap. Mulch between trees and shrubs, to improve soil structure
    and fertility. You can use Westland ’ s Farmyard Manure if your soil needs
    feeding up. Phormiums and cordylines need to be protected from sever frost and
    snow – tie the leaves loosely together and cover with horticultural fleece or
    bubblepack. If you are planting a new hedge, prepare the site before planting by
    digging it over and adding homemade compost or Westland Farmyard Manure.

  • This is a good month to put a fresh layer of bark around plants, this helps
    to keep plants insulated in severe weather.

  • Seed is now available, its always a good time to stock on these to avoid
    disappointment

Going Green



  • Start saving all used egg shells, these form a very environmentally
    friendly way of deterring snail and slug damage to plants in the summer months.

  • Remember even in winter put all kitchen waste such as potato skins onto the
    compost heap.

Lawn



  • Take the opportunity to check over your lawn mower and trimmer and clean
    them. Arrange to have the mower sharpened if necessary.

  • Ensure the last of any late falling leaves are cleared to avoid a build up
    of pests and disease.

In the Greenhouse



  • Hygiene is crucial in the winter greenhouse; otherwise grey mould may
    infect over-wintering plants. Pick off old flowers and dying leaves and dispose
    of them. Don't over water plants. Open vents during clear days to allow airflow.

Containers



  • Even in winter containers of winter bedding such as pansies and ivies may
    need watering in dry conditions.

  • If you have tender specimen plants protect them from the cold with fleece
    or bubble pack.

  • A lot of people loose expensive plants such as Boxwood and Bay trees this
    is not due to the weather but lack of water so don ’ t forget to check every two
    weeks.

Vegetable Garden



  • Dig over new plots and leave roughly dug to allow frost to break down the
    large clods.

  • Empty out your compost bin over the vegetable plot this will allow the
    elements to break down large pieces naturally.

Fruit Garden



  • Prune blackcurrants and raspberries.

  • Plant new fruit trees.

GARDENING TIPS

DECEMBER
  ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR DECEMBER



  • Store terracotta pots in a shed unless you're sure they're frost-resistant

  • Line your greenhouse with bubble-wrap for insulation

  • Move houseplants off windowsills at night

  • Send off for lots of seed and plant catalogues

  TOPICAL TIPS FOR DECEMBER


Flower Garden



  • If you're feeling energetic get out and do a bit of digging. Start a
    programme of conditioning and improving your soil. To do this successfully you
    need first to find out what sort of soil you've got, whether it's acid, neutral
    or alkaline, whether it's sandy, peaty, stony, loamy or sticky with clay. If
    you're new to gardening ask your neighbours. Buy a soil testing kit – this will
    measure the acidity of your soil. Any soil will benefit from having organic
    matter added so while you're digging add plenty OF Westland ’ s Farm Manure.

  • As long as the weather remains dry you can continue planting evergreens

  • Clear up any fallen leaves and cut back perennials if you haven't already
    done so curl up in front of the fire with lots of colourful catalogues to give
    you lots of ideas for next year

Lawn



  • Clean your lawn mower. When spring comes you'll be glad you did

  • Never allow leaves to build up on lawns as they will cause disease

In the Greenhouse



  • Save energy and keep your greenhouse warm by lining it with bubble pack

  • Potted azaleas need to be watered with rainwater. Feed them weekly with
    Liquid Ericaceous Feed and stand them on damp gravel. When they form buds you
    can take them into the house if your prefer but continue to treat them in the
    same way. They do prefer to be kept on the cool side.

  • You may think pests are dead or hibernating but unfortunately whitefly and
    greenfly find greenhouse very congenial all the year round. Be on the lookout
    for them and spray as necessary

Containers



  • Trees and shrubs can be planted in containers in fine weather. For permanent
    plantings like these choose J Arthur Bower's John Innes No. 3.

Vegetable Garden



  • Clear away the remains of old crops and put them on your compost heap.
    Remember to add biological compost maker every 15 cm (6 inches)

Herb Garden



  • Protect bay in very cold weather or if it's in a container move it to a
    sheltered spot

Fruit Garden



  • Take hardwood cuttings of currants and gooseberries. The cuttings should be
    about 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) long and should be buried in a trench in the open
    ground to about half their length

November

NOVEMBER
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR NOVEMBER



  • Plant conifers and evergreens

  • Clear leaves and compost them

  • Sow peas and broad beans

  • Spike lawn and give it an autumn feed

  • Protect tender outdoor plants from frost

  • Start stored poinsettias into growth for Christmas

TOPICAL TIPS FOR NOVEMBER


Flower Garden



  • Frosts can strike in November so make sure you have some horticultural
    fleece handy to throw over tender shrubs

  • November is a good time of year to plant new hedges. You cab order bundles
    of bare-rooted hedging plants in garden centres now. Prepare your site well,
    digging on lots of organic matter such as homemade compost or Westland ’ s Farm
    Manure before you plant

  • Harden off autumn-sown sweet peas by keeping the cold frame open as much as
    possible during slight frosts. If the temperature drops below – 2 C (28 F) close
    the frame and covers it. Watch out for aphids on the young plants

Roses



  • Roses need very little attention this month – just make sure they're all
    tidied up for the winter

Lawn



  •   This is your last chance to catch up with jobs you didn't do earlier, such
    as aerating your lawns and applying an autumn feed

In the Greenhouse



  • Pot on cuttings of tender perennials that were taken in September. Use
    Multi-Purpose Compost or John Innes No. 2 if you prefer.

  • Keep the greenhouse well-ventilated to keep diseases at bay

Containers



  • For a splash of colour plant a container with some of the colourful
    ornamental cabbages now available or winter-flowering heathers. The heathers,
    varieties of Erica carnea prefer an ericaceous compost

  • If you have cordylines or other tender shrubs in pots protect them from
    winter frosts. Remember that some terracotta pots are not frost-resistant and
    should be stored through the winter

Vegetable Garden



  • For an early crop of broad beans sow varieties such as "Aquadulce Claudia"
    and "Reina Blanca"

  • Peas can be sown for an early crop.

  • If your cold frame is standing idle use it to grow a crop of
    carrots

Herb garden



  • If you have a bay tree in a container make sure it's in a sheltered place
    or protect it with fleece for the winter

Fruit Garden



  • Established trees can be winter-pruned this month

 




October


  ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR OCTOBER



  • Bring in tender perennials, trim and store in a frost-free place

  • Mulch your border with homemade compost

  • Start a new compost heap

  • Compost summer bedding and plant up containers with bulbs and winter
    bedding

  • Plant bulbs in the garden.

TOPICAL TIPS FOR OCTOBER


Flower Garden



  • Continue to plant bulbs in the open garden. Enrich the soil in the planting
    hole with a sprinkling of Bonemeal

  • This is also a good time of year to plant new shrubs and perennials. The
    warmth in the soil will help them to get quickly established. Be generous with
    the planting mixture and be sure to water in well in dry weather

  • October is a good time of year to move established evergreens and conifers.
    Get a friend to help and dig them up with the biggest rootball you can manage.
    Prepare the new planting site well with lots of your favourite planting mixture
    – make sure to include  bonemeal to boost root formation. Then water in very
    well. You'll need to continue for several weeks until the plant becomes
    established

  • Dig up dahlias as soon as frost blackens the foliage. Cut back the stems to
    about 10 cm (4 inches) and remove as much soil as possible before standing the
    plants upside-down for about a week to allow them to dry out. Store the tubers
    in boxes, covered with slightly damp peat. If you don't have a frost-free
    greenhouse or shed, you can keep the tubers in a spare bedroom or unheated porch

Going Green



  • At this time of year the amount of material suitable for composting
    multiplies alarmingly. Summer bedding, trimmings from perennials and fallen
    leaves will all rot down, so don't waste them. Use up all your existing homemade
    compost to mulch around established borders or to add to planting mixtures for
    new acquisitions. Then start a new compost heap. Always mix together the
    different materials – this helps decomposition. Whether you favour a
    purpose-made compost container or an open heap, you'll find that the addition of
    a biological compost maker will help you produce high quality compost easily and
    cheaply.

Roses



  • If blackspot or rust has been a problem try and pick off infected leaves as
    far as you can and dispose of them – don't put them on the compost heap. If they
    fall to the ground and blow about they will spread the infections next year.

Lawn



  • New lawns can be laid or sown on well-prepared sites

  • Scarify established lawns with a rake, then aerate with a fork if you
    haven't done it already. There's still time to use Autumn Lawn Food

Greenhouse



  • Check through all pots that have been growing in the greenhouse or that
    have been brought in from the garden. Destroy any vine weevil larvae that you
    find

  • Stop watering tuberous begonias and allow the tops to die off. Then remove
    the tubers from the compost and store in a cool, dry place

  • Bring late-flowering pot-grown chrysanthemums into the greenhouse for some
    late colour

  • Wash shading off the windows and consider insulating your greenhouse with
    bubblepack

Containers



  • As well as planting containers with bulbs and spring bedding, consider
    planting a couple with small evergreen shrubs to give a bit of structure and
    green through the winter months. Euonymus, ivies and dwarf conifers are ideal.

Vegetable Garden



  • Harvest carrots and potatoes, making sure the crops are clean and dry before
    you put them into storage. Marrows can be stored once their skins have been
    hardened in the sun

  • Finish picking tomatoes before the plants become diseased. You can hang up
    the whole plant to ripen green trusses, or alternatively pick the fruit and
    ripen it individually. Or you could always make some green tomato chutney!

Herb Garden



  • To ensure a supply of fresh mint during winter dig up some roots and plant
    them 5cm (2 inches) deep in a seed tray in Multi-Purpose Compost. Keep the tray
    in the greenhouse.

  • Clumps of chives can also be put into pots and brought into the
    greenhouse

Fruit Garden



  • Prepare site for planting bare-rooted fruit trees and bushes. No fruit
    trees like poor drainage so if your soil is heavy add plenty of Silvaperl grit
    or gravel as well as organic matter when you dig it over

  • Finish harvesting autumn-fruiting raspberries and cut down all the canes
    that have fruited this year

September.

 Flower Garden



  • Buy spring bulbs for next year. Most bulbs, including daffodils, hyacinths,
    lilies and small bulbs are best planted this month or in early October. Tulips
    are better planted towards the end of October

  • Give evergreen hedges a final trim to ensure they are neat for the winter

  • Now's the time to go around your garden collecting seeds from perennials
    and annuals. Collect seed heads in paper bags and leave them in a warm place to
    dry for a few days, before cleaning and storing in small envelopes. Some gardens
    that open to the public offer see-collecting days – a great way to find
    something unusual. Most seeds are best sown in spring

  • Sweet pea lovers may find that sowing seed in autumn produces stronger
    plants. Do not soak the seeds as they are liable to rot. Use Seed and Potting
    Compost and sow the seeds in root trainers, sweet peas tubes, pots or trays. It
    has been found that dark coloured seeds germinate well in fairly damp compost,
    but pale seed require compost that is only just moist. Cover the containers with
    glass or put them in a propagator and keep at around 15 C (59 F). When the
    seedlings appear transfer them to a cold frame. Pinch out the growing tips when
    the plants are about 10 cm (4 inches) high

Rose  Garden


  • Shrub roses and ramblers can easily be propagated from stem cuttings at this
    time of year. Take a length of stem about 30cm (12 inches) long and trim it off
    just below the bottom leaf. Remove the soft tip just above a root joint. Take
    off all but the top two or three leaves and push the cuttings into a well dug
    trench in the garden to about half their length. They should be left for 12
    months to root and develop

  • If rambler and climbing roses have got a bit out of hand, spend a bit of
    time tying them in

Lawn



  • Aerate the lawn with a fork or special tool then apply Scotts Autumn Lawn
    Food to nourish your lawn through the winter months

  • You can continue to re-seed bare patches on your lawn. It's also a good
    time of year to prepare the ground for sowing a new lawn, while the earth is
    still warm

In the Greenhouse



  • Bring in cacti and houseplants that have spent the summer out of doors

  • Continue to take cuttings of tender perennials

  • Buy prepared bulbs for Christmas flowering and plant them in bowls of Bulb
    Planting Fibre. The added charcoal will keep the compost sweet even if the
    container has no drainage holes, but make sure you don't saturate it

  • If you have kept indoor cyclamen plants from last winter you should now
    start watering them. Water from the bottom by standing them in a shallow tray
    and allow to drain thoroughly.

Containers



  • Your summer bedding will probably still be looking so good that you can't
    bear to throw it out yet. Keep them going until they look tired. Remember that
    you can overwinter many tender plants. Take them out of their pots and brush off
    most of the old compost so that you can trim back the roots. Also trim the top
    growth. Then place them in a tray with some damp, but not saturated,  peat
    covering the roots and store them in a frost-free place

  • When planting daffodils in containers its worth planting two layers of
    bulbs, slightly staggered one above the other. This will ensure a spectacular
    display. Plant the bulbs deeply enough to allow you to plant winter and spring
    bedding, such as winter pansies, primroses, violas and wallflowers on top

Vegetable Garden



  • Sweetcorn will be ready to harvest when the silks have turned from golden to
    brown. For the sweetest taste, cook them within minutes of cutting

  • Ripe onions should be lifted carefully and laid out to dry before storing

  • Continue to harvest runner beans and courgettes. Make sure you don't leave
    runner and French beans too long otherwise they will be stringy and tough

  • If you're sowing out of doors this month you can speed up germination by
    putting a cloche over the seeds

Herb Garden



  • Parsley can be sown now for an early spring crop

  • Tidy up your herb garden by dead-heading and trimming back perennials and
    discarding annuals

Fruit Garden


  • Cover autumn-fruiting blackberries and raspberries with netting to keep off
    the birds, but check daily to ensure no animals or birds get trapped

  • Pick early varieties of apples as soon as they're ripe and eat them – they
    won't keep.

 
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