Head Gardeners’ tips
January 2024

Short days and bitter winds can make it hard to venture outside, but if you wrap up warm and face the elements, you’ll soon feel the benefits!

Here are some jobs to get you gardening during January:

Mulch:

Mulching is the act of covering the ground with bulky organic matter. This could be bark chips, garden compost or even gravel. The benefits are many: moisture retention, weed suppression, soil improvement, increasing fungal and microbial diversity and more. It’s best to avoid mulching when the ground is frozen, but good to do it after a rain to lock in moisture. A layer of around 10cm of mulch is good for most situations. Be sure to leave a gap around woody plant trunks, otherwise the mulch can cause rot. Mulching also has the added benefit of warming you up as you shift it; you’ll soon find you have far too many layers on!

Panic plant bulbs:

It’s not too late to get those bulbs that you’ve had lying around all Christmas break in the ground! If the bulbs are firm and not soft or mouldy, they will flower just fine. Get them in before the soil freezes solid and you’ll be thanking yourself come springtime.

Micro salads and herbs:

The veg plot may not be as productive during winter, but you can sow many leafy crops indoors on your windowsill. Try salad burnet, pea shoots, wasabi rocket, mizuna, and thai basil for something to jazz up your dishes. You should be able to get multiple harvests out of a sowing if you take a few leaves from each plant.

Houseplants:

Houseplants are a great way to bring the outdoors in. As light levels dip in the winter, make sure to move plants as close to windows as possible, but don’t trap them behind curtains where the cold air can damage them. Central heating can make the air in your home dry, so mist your tropical plants or place them on top of trays of gravel with water to increase humidity.

Mindfulness:

Try and spend at least 15-30 minutes a day outside in a green space. It will help refocus your mind, reduce stress levels and even improve sleep. For those who experience seasonal affective disorder, time outdoors is recommended to alleviate symptoms. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll spot, spider webs touched by frost, birds flitting amongst branches and squirrels trying to remember where on earth they buried those acorns. Breathe deeply and remember that spring is just around the corner!