Gardening tips

Flowers

• Sow antirrhinum, begonia, geranium, lobelia, sweet pea, and verbena seeds.
• Prune your rose bushes.
• Inspect your stored dahlia tubers for any signs of rot or damp damage.

Veg

• Begin by chitting your first early seed potatoes in a light, cool, and frost-free location so that they are ready for planting in February and March.
• Plan out your vegetable grids to get ready for planting when the time comes.
• If you plan to sow runner beans, prepare the vegetable beds by digging a long trench and filling it with well-rotted compost. In April, simply cover the filled trench with soil and sow your runner bean seeds directly on top.

Fruit

• Initiate the rhubarb forcing process with a large pot or even a bucket.
• Inspect your fruit trees for any wind damage and securely anchor them to the ground with stakes or ties.
• Preserve tall flower stems as a habitat for overwintering insects.

Wild bird care

• Continue to provide bird food this month, but make sure to place feeders out of predators’ reach.
• Check the bird bath regularly to ensure it hasn’t frozen over.

Pest control

• Clean the greenhouse
• Scrub pots ready for spring planting.

Pond

• Secure pond netting to prevent falling leaves and debris from contaminating the water.
• If you have koi carp or goldfish, use pond heaters, air pumps, or floating devices to prevent the water from freezing over, as this can be fatal for fish.
• Refrain from disturbing any frogs or toads around the pond, allowing them to conserve energy throughout the colder months..

Lawn

• Try to avoid walking on a frozen lawn to avoid damaging the grass.

Houseplants

• During the winter season, trim dead flowers from winter-blooming houseplants such as cyclamen. To extend the flowering period, keep them in a cool, well-lit area.
• For a healthier and cleaner houseplant, wipe down its leaves once a month to remove dust.