Page 56 - Phonebox Magazine January 2011

A Month in the Garden
Linette Applegate of Toddington Manor
www.applegategardens.co.uk
The start of the gardening year doesn’t really kick in until springtime, you may think, but venture into your garden during January and signs of growth are all around you.
Most of the winter berries have disappeared as birds enjoy their tasty treats, but these are replaced by catkins dangling from garrya’s and hazels, the first signs of bulbs pushing their way through the cold soil, and buds swelling on bare stems.
If the soil is frosty or wet, try to keep off the beds as walking over them can easily destroy the soil structure. Continue planting dormant
shrubs and trees when the weather allows, and check that any newly planted shrubs have not been lifted up by the winter frosts.
If so, use your heel to firm them
back into the soil again. If we have heavy snowfall, carefully brush it off conifers and evergreen plants to prevent the weight breaking any branches.
And continue looking forward to longer, warmer days! K
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56 Phonebox Magazine