The Gardening Guide - January 2014 - Issue #1

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CONTENT

7 Crop Rotation Help ensure your garden has good quality soil, minimise pests and reduce the amount of chemical additives.

6 Compost It's easy to make your own compost

Regulars 4 To-Do List

Now is the tim e to get out­sid e and prep yo ur ga rd en for the sp rin g.

9 Grow&Sow A Garden Gu id es quick overview of what to Grow & Sow in January.

10 Growing Guide This month we explore the benifits of Greenhouse growin g.

18 Calendar Whats happening in the UK in Janu ary.

14 Fruit Trees All you need to know about plantin~ yours!

January To-Do List

t may be cold and miserable outside but that's no reason to neglect your gardenl Now is the time to get outdoors and prepare for the busy spring months l Not a lot needs to be done in garden

now as most plants and trees are in hibernation. There are still many little jobs you can get out of the way now before the sun comes out

SHEDS Now is the perfect time to get into your shed and sort it out Firstly organise your gardening tools; these often get forgotten about during the winter months and by the time spring arrives things have been lost Arrange your tools and display them

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• "Brush snow from evergreens as soon as poss ible after a storm. Use a broom in an

upward, sweeping motion . Serious damage may be caused by heavy snow or ice

accumu lat ing on the branches."

in your shed; hanging them on your shed wall means they will always be to hand when you need them. Some tools can get dull if they have been used throughout the summer so check all of your spades, shovels and forks; they may need sharpening.

LAWN MOWERS If you have an electric or petrol lawn

mower now is the perfect time to take it in for a service. Lawn mow­ers, like cars, need to be serviced once a year to ensure they are in working order. During the summer months a service may be more ex­pensive and an appointment can be hard to get, so book your mower in now before summer starts.

Image: http:/ /www.istockphoto.com/stock­photo-2364525-yard-tools.php

LAWN Most of us forget about our lawns during the winter months but by taking care of it now you can ensure it will be green and luscious during the summer. Try to avoid walking on your lawn; especially when it is wet or frozen. This can compact soil and damage the lawns root struc­ture. If your lawn is patchy you can fix it Simply wait to the ground has softened and dig up the patch. Add a layer of compost and dig it into the patch. Then sow in new grass seeds or lay down a layer of turf. Water this area and leave to grow.

GARDEN BORDERS January is the perfect time to neaten any garden borders. A lawn edger is the perfect tool or you can also use a sharp spade. Just go around the border of your lawn and trim off any protruding edges. You can also trim any garden hedges you have now. Just be careful you don't take too much off as some hedges are still in hibernation.

DEAD PLANTS If you have any old or dead plants in your garden remove them now. This will leave clear spaces so you can plan what you want to plant in spring I Some gardens still have lots of left over leaves from the autumn months. Don't let these go to waste. If you really want to create nutrient rich compost place old leaves in a

JANUARY 2014

bin bag. Moisten the leaves a little and place the bags in a hidden sec­tion of your garden. After 1 - 2 years these leaves will turn into good com­post for your whole garden. Just give them a shake every 2 - 3 months to help aerate the inside of the bag.

PREPARE It may be cold outside but by completing some of these jobs now you will ensure you have lots of time to do the fun stuff when the weather warms up. Your garden will appreciate all the preparation1 Don't fret gardeners; soon the sun will be in the sky longer and will also hopefully be a bit warmer.

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Compost Let it grow! Is the so il type in your garden a heavy clay or very sandy? Compost can help '

It's easy to make your own compost! Buying it from garden centres can be expensive and by making your own compost you are also recycling. There are two ma in types of com posting; co ld com post ing and hot com post ing Co ld com post ing is simple; just co llect garden

waste and organ ic material (li ke vegetab le peels, coffee grounds and eggshell s) and put them in a compost bin. Over a longer

period of time the material will break down and decompose. Th is will form hea lthy, nutrient rich compost.

Make a plan

W1@1M Find a compost

box, you can make one or buy

them from a garden centre. It

needs to have good ventilation so

the compost is wel l aerated. You

can make one easily from an old

palette. Then make sure you have

enough green and brown compost

material.

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Did you know?

Find Materials

W1@1M You will need

brown and green compost

material. Brown materia l is smal l

timber sticks and branches. They

need to be small so they break

down. Make sure they are disease

free. You will also need green

material like vegetable peelings,

egg shel ls, coffee grounds or

grass cl ippings. Arrange in two

piles

In the UK 94% of Peat Bogs have been lost.

Create Layers

W1@1M When f1rst starting

a compost heap layer your brown

and green material. Start with

your brown material and create a

4 inch layer; then add a similar

green material layer. Repeat until

you have used up all of your

compost ingred ients. Leave this

mixture for 2 weeks and then mix

together. Add a sprinkle of water.

Most multi-purpose com­post contains around 70% peat compost ingredients.

Keep Feeding!

W1@1M A compost box

shou ld have a drawer or access

point on the bottom; you can then

access al l the ready compost at

the bottom and feed it at the top.

You can continue add ing to your

compost heap all year round. Just

don't add any oil , fats, cooked

food or raw meats.

Amateur gardeners around the UK still use around 66% of all the peat consumed in the UK.

Prepare for Spring

Crop Rotation When you buy seeds or small

plants check the back of the packet for the

information tag to see which

category it f1ts in .

rowing vegetables is a great hobby to have and is also a great

way to provide organic, healthy vegetables for your family. Crop rotation is something most of us associate with large scale farms but applying this method to your veg -etable garden will provide significant benefits now and in the future. Many gardeners are often put off by the complexity of crop rotation but we've put together this easy, quick to follow Guide.

ROTATE Rotating your vegetable crops will help ensure your garden has good quality soil, minimise pests and help reduce the amount of chemical add i­tives. Vegetable rotation is very important for soil

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quality; growing anything in soil takes away some of its nutrients. Some plants require nutrients which another may not If you don't rotate your growing crops you may find your soil is missing important nutrients ..

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Crop Rotation PESTS & DISEASES e Crop rotation helps stop pests and diseases from affecting your veg­etable garden. Plant specific pests/ diseases can cause major damage; by rotating your crops you can stop these problems. This is because by moving plants you stop the pests and diseases from remembering where your plants are. Also, changes in soil quality and sun position helps reduce the chance of pests isolating a plant and damaging it Using crop rotation in your garden can help reduce the amount of chemicals you need to use too l Crop rotation also helps tackle annoying weeds in your vegetable patch. Weeds tend to grow well on certain crops like potatoes; by rotating these crops yearly you help stop weeds from establishing.

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MAKE A PLAN The idea of crop rotation means you move vegetables around your grow­ing area. Crop rotation should be on a 3/4 year schedule. So if you plant tomatoes in the top left side of your vegetable beds they shouldn't return to that area for 3/4 years; they will instead move to other parts of your vegetable growing area. Vegetables are placed into groups; this makes it easier to rotate a crop and will also make the rotation easier to manage.

VEGETABLE GROUPS

DIVIDE Firstly you will need to divide your growing space into distinct, separate areas. Then decide what plants you want to grow Write a list out so you can group vegetables together so the rotation plan is easier to manage. Next you will need to divide your growing area into four distinct areas; you can do this by simply drawing a map or you can divide your growing area with string and pegs.

There are 4 main types of planting groups when you consider crop rotation in your own vegetable garden. Take a look above at our handy, crop rotation guide

a Sow JANUARY 2014

nu y

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JANUARY 2014

Do I Need A Greenhouse?

Greenhouse gar-

G dening does not appeal to all gar­deners; it has a reputation for taking up a lot

time and being very com­plicated. But the opposite is truel A greenhouse can be a gardener's best friend. It provides a growing space all year round, even through the winter months. Greenhouse gardening is ideal for British weather; the summer months can sometimes resemble a tropical country's monsoon season and a greenhouse provides great protection ..

THE ADVANTAGES Growing in a greenhouse has good advantages. A green­house is an enclosed space free from pests and garden

diseases. Growing in a green­house can also help reduce the amount of fertilisers and chemicals you need to use on your plants. Insects and other pests like slugs will be locked out so you can let your plants grow with peace of mind.

FIRST STEP Choosing the right green­houseforyourneedsand garden is the first step. A good way to prepare for this task is to write a basic list of what you want to grow, where your greenhouse will be and your budget. You can then compare your needs to the specifications of any green­houses you find.

MODERN GREENHOUSES The modern greenhouse world is full of new materials, high tech -

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Greenhouses

e specifications and contemporary designs. Polycarbonate greenhouses are perfect if you're new to growing in a greenhouse. Polycarbonate is a modern plastic material and the type used in greenhouses is spe­cifically designed to be used when growing plants. The thick, polycar­bonate material is made up of layers and ridges. Unlike glass, polycarbon­ate is not clear but light still passes through and feeds your plants.

POLYCARBONATE The ridges on the surface of polycar­bonate help to trap air. The trapped air helps retain heat within the greenhouse building. A polycar­bonate greenhouse is much more efficient than a glass greenhouse.

'' A greenhouse 1s also great 1f

you want to grow exot1c flowers

li ke orch1ds; you can control the

temperature and humdity 1ns1de

Glass greenhouses often suffer dramatic drops in temperature when the sun goes down, but if you choose a polycarbonate greenhouse you will find the temperature is pretty much constant. Polycarbonate is also very, very safel Unlike glass it is 100% shatterproof and perfect for busy gardens.

GLASS GREENHOUSES If you do want a glass greenhouse there are still many on the mar-ket. They prove to be very popular because they have an attractive, traditional look. Glass greenhouses are completely clear so you can view your plants from the outside. If your garden is used by children or pets

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Containers & pots

Pots come in many different sizes and made out of diffe rent materials too. The cheapest containers are plastic ones; these come in many different shapes and sizes. Plastic containers are easy to use and don't need any maintenance.

make sure you choose toughened glass. This option is not only safer but very necessary in a garden of rogue footballs and hyper active family pets.

When growing in a greenhouse your main concern should be tempera­ture. You don't have to worry about

• • • I

single degrees of change but you should keep an eye on extreme drops in temperature. Adding a small thermometer to the inside of your greenhouse should help you keep track. In the summer months you also need to keep an eye on extreme rises in temperature as this can lead to burnt or dead plants.

JANUARY 2014

GROWING Growing in a greenhouse is different to growing in ground soil. You will be using containers; this is because a greenhouse is placed on a solid base like concrete or paving slabs. Inside your greenhouse you can place pots directly onto the ground. Why not add greenhouse shelving? Greenhouse shelving or 'staging' will help you use the space inside your greenhouse efficiently. You can place multiple pots on one shelf.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES You can grow almost anything in a greenhouse. Cucumbers and courgettes do particularly well because they thrive in a humid environment. Tomatoes and peppers also grow well in a greenhouse because they need a warm surrounding to ensure they ripen and become very tasty. In the winter months you can grow salad leaves and start off plants like garlic or cauliflowers! A greenhouse really does expand the options you have to choose from. A greenhouse is also great if you want to grow exotic flowers like orchids; you can control the temperature and humidity inside so you can tackle more challenging plants.

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Fruit Trees

ruit trees make a

F great addition to any garden . They provide tasty home grown fruit and

also make a stunning feature. In the Ul< our weather means we can't grow e><otic fruit trees like bananas, but we can grow many varieties of cherry, apple, plum and peach trees . Choosing the right tree and placing it in the right spot is the most important part of the journey.

CHOICE The humble apple tree is the most commonly planted fruit tree in the Ul< but there are many different types of tree to choose from. Pear, plum,

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cherry and fig trees also grow very well in our climate and also produce tasty fruit. When choos­ing the right tree for your garden there are a few things you should con­sider. Firstly consider the size of the fruit tree you

choose. Trees grow at different rates depending on how they are fed, pol­linated and where they are placed . As a guide you should know that apple, cherry and pear trees usually grow from 4-6ft while plum and

peach trees grow from 6 -8ft tall.

PLANTING When choosing a fruit tree you need to check how the tree should be planted. Some fruit trees can be placed directly into the ground while others need to be grafted to another tree. This is because sometimes the root structure of a young fruit tree isn't strong enough to sustain the tree, so the process of grafting a trees root stock to another ensures the tree will grow to be healthy. Look on the label of a fruit tree when buying one; any with the labels M27 or M9 are suitable for most gardens.

Image: http:/ /upload. wikimedia.org/wikipe­

dia/ commons/ e/ eel Apples.jpg

JANUARY 2014

'' The humble apple tree is the most commonly

planted fruit tree in the UK but there are many

different types of tree to choose from. Pea~ plum,

cherry and fig trees also grow very well in our

climate and also product tasty fruit

BUYING When you buy a fruit tree it can come in two forms; in a container or bare rooted . When choosing a tree make sure you look at its roots, you want to make sure

they are healthy and well established. Trees which are 1-3 years old tend to be easier to plant and will establish quickly in your garden.

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PLANTING YOUR FRUIT TREE

P lanting your tree correctly will ensure it establishes well and will grow into a healthy, fruit produc­

ing tree. Firstly pick the right position in your garden; you want it to be in a sunny area of your garden but it should be sheltered from strong winds. By placing your tree in a sunny spot your fruit should have plenty of time to ripen and become sweet'

PLANTING The hole for your tree needs to be at least a third wider than the total root area of

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your tree. The depth of the hole should also be as deep as the roots. Create a small mound of soil inside the hole before planting your tree. A good way to support your tree is to insert a small, wooden stake into the ground. You can then plant your tree and attach it to the stake for e><tra support while it grows.

CONTAINER GROWING Once your tree is in the ground fill the hole up with soil and create a small mound around the base of your tree; this will also provide support. If you decide you want to

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grow your tree in a container make sure the container is large enough; ask when buy­ing your tree, a garden centre or tree nursery can give great advice' Choose a tub and fill it half way with a mi><ture of compost and soil; place your tree inside the container and continue to fill with soil. Again, the soil should form a mound around the base of the tree. Water well; container trees will need to be watered regularly and fed too.

PESTS& DES EASES Can kill a fruit tree quickly and prevent any fruit from growing!

Once your tree has been planted you can apply a 'grease band' around the trunk of your tree. A grease band is sticky paper or a layer of special

grease. It helps stop egg laying moths from destroying your trees; they don't have wings but will get stuck to the grease band hence protecting your tree. Ready

made grease bands can be purchased from most garden centres or you can apply special fruit tree grease directly to the trunk of a tree.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

DAMAGE PREVENTION & MAINTENANCE In the summer when your tree starts to produce fruit you will need to thin the branches; this will help

stop the tree from being over crowded. Also sometimes when fruit grows it is too heavy for the tree and will

cause damage to the branch . Thinning fruit helps prevent this from happening.

•

JANUARY 2014

Image: http:/ /upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/commons/7 /76/Peaches_on_ the_tree.jpg?uselang=en-gb

PRUNING YOUR FRUIT TREE Part of pruning a tree is about making sure it grows in the right shape. This is called 'training'. Trees between the age of 1- 3 years will need to be pruned so they grow in the correct shape. Most fruit trees do not produce any fruit for 3 years so you can take the time to prune it into the right shape. You want the top of your tree to form an oval shape; this will ensure the tree gets light from all angles. Cut any branches which look dead or diseased. You will also need to trim side branches and any small, damaged branches.

Fruit trees need to be pruned every year to ensure they grow well and produce fruitl Fruit trees should be pruned during the winter months because they are dormant. If you have a trained fruit tree like espaliers, cordons, pyramid or fans they should be pruned in late August- September. To prune a fruit tree you need the right tools. You will need a small tree saw and good sized secateurs; make sure your. Blunt tools will not prune a tree properly and will be hard to use. So make sure all your tools are very sharp.

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How to Plant a Fruit Tree

Crnsider sunl~ht Clnd growing rooW~ when picking C\

piClce for your tree.

•

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •1•1•1•1•1•1•1•1•1•1•1• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 Protect container 3 4 It's now time to 5 Cut down and plants by adding prepare your flower/ shred your christ-

Happy New Year! bubble wrap or vegetable beds for mas tree. This can hessian the spring. be used as mulch to pots. for your garden.

6 7 Dig a Bean 8 9 If you need to cut 10 11 12

Trench. Broad your rose bushes beans can be sown do it now. The cold from Febuary on- weather helps wards. prevent damage.

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Prune fruit trees in preparation for the busy spring/ summer months.

20 21 22 23 24 25 It's National 26

Potato Day!

27 28 29 30 31