Now that the festivities are finished for another year and the decorations are returned to the attic, it's time to prepare for the next season - spring!
January is the ideal time to pop on your gloves and grab the pruning shears to organise your outdoor space for the return of the sunshine. These simple tips should help your garden flourish in just a few months time whether you're a pro or novice at the job.
Grab a rake and clear away any fallen leaves, pull weeds up from your pathways, trim back bushes and give your decking a good scrub to remove any moss. Not only will a thorough clean make your garden, greenhouse or polytunnel instantly more attractive it will also uncover your grass and plants exposing them to the light and enabling them to grow. If you have a bird feeder or table ensure they are topped up as it won't be long until the wildlife returns.
There is a lot of rainfall in the UK, especially this time of year, so make the most of the colder months by storing it away. Water butts are low cost to buy with minimal effort required to install one and they will save you money in the long run. You can then moisten soil and sprinkle flowers with no need to head to the kitchen taps and traipse mud inside. You can also create your own compost with ease by purchasing a bin or by making a heap and placing all of the unwanted trimmings you've gathered already to transform into a rich soil for spreading.
A lot of bulbs and seeds can be planted in January so come summer there is a beautiful display of colour to be proud of. You can also begin your vegetable patch with mushrooms and potatoes and your fruit collection with currants and raspberry canes - nothing beats the taste of home grown produce! The kids will be eager to get involved by planting a few items of their own, it's really educational for them to get stuck in too.
If your fencing is damaged from high winds or recent frosts have left your terracotta pots a little worse for wear, replace them now. You can usually get a better deal this time of year when garden centres are quiet and contractors are less busy. The same applies to your cracked or blocked drains and old patio furniture - take advantage of the sales and save your pennies later.
When it comes to having fun in the sun when it does arrive, you will probably want an array of toys including a sandpit and slide to keep the kids entertained. The more appealing the garden is the more time they will want to spend outside while you work on your tan! There are so many playhouses for girls and boys available that you may not know which to opt for but the league tables from www.WhatShed.co.uk will certainly come in useful. With a variety of styles and options in wood, plastic and fabric to choose from there will be smiles on faces when it comes to play time - pick yours up now ready to assemble later.
When it comes to having fun in the sun when it does arrive, you will probably want an array of toys including a sandpit and slide to keep the kids entertained. The more appealing the garden is the more time they will want to spend outside while you work on your tan! There are so many playhouses for girls and boys available that you may not know which to opt for but the league tables from www.WhatShed.co.uk will certainly come in useful. With a variety of styles and options in wood, plastic and fabric to choose from there will be smiles on faces when it comes to play time - pick yours up now ready to assemble later.
What gardening tips do you have to share?
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Some brilliant tips here. I must confess to not really giving the garden much thought this time of year and then I struggle to grow anything as I've left it too late.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips here I really wish we had a garden would be lovely for Blake to play in, in the warmer months. I'd also love one as it would be fab to grow our own fruit and veg
ReplyDeleteI have such high hopes for our house an garden this year. Our playshed is going to be brightened up and I can't wait to get some colour in those flower beds x
ReplyDeleteOur garden needs some major work once the weather warms up
ReplyDeleteI really wish we had a garden. I can't wait for flowers and veg growing like my grandad does.
ReplyDeleteWe managed to finish (90%) our garden at the end of last summer. We just need to put a fence up and it will be finished. I can't wait to be able to buy a playhouse and outdoor toys for the girls xx
ReplyDeleteI have just written a similar post - we have a large garden and want to make more of it this year - weather permitting! Kaz x
ReplyDeleteWe really want a playhouse. This looks so great. This is perfect, we're about to do up our garden and planting things, so I'll be referring to this.xx #love2blog
ReplyDeleteawww that play shed is so cute. Would love something like that for the boys x
ReplyDeleteI need to get out in the garden, I still have lots of blubs to plant. Thanks for the tips
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and that playhouse is adorable. My girls have their Wendy house in their bedroom at the moment but it will go outside when the weather cheers up. There's so much I want to do to my garden and if I ever find the time I'll be checking back for more tips :)
ReplyDeleteI used to care about my garden. Our one is very small bit still bog enough for the kids to play in. With 2 kids I don't get the time to look after the garden anymore so the only thing I really do is cut the grass and get rid of any weeds.
ReplyDeleteI've learned over the years it's better to spend more on a fence with a concrete base, rather than wood. The wood will always eventually rot and it will need replacing much sooner than the concrete ones.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips - my garden is such a tip (and overgrown), I just don't know where to start with it!
ReplyDeleteI love spring and planning what to do in the garden. What we've started to do around this time of year is just to spend a few mins each weekend just clearing out bits of rubbish etc. This means when the nice weather finally arrive (!) you will spend less time tidying and more time planning and enjoying!
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