February – Garden Maintenance – Nottingham.

Average temperatures: 1.2°C / 7.2°C                                  10 Day Weather Forecast
Average rainfall: 1.7 inches
Average sunshine: 64.7 hours

Still winter but the days are getting noticeably longer and average temperatures should rise a fraction. January was remarkably mild for much of the month but the recent cold snap shows that frost and snow is still a real danger. For high and exposed gardens that danger may continue right through to March and possibly beyond .

Now is a good time to wander round your garden to see how plants and structures are coping through the winter months. Hopefully you’ve not had many hard frosts so with a bit of luck damage will be minimal. Check your paving for movement and cast your eye over the gaps between any slabs, stones and any brickwork you have, looking for loose grouting. The odd problem you can probably fix yourself but if it seems more serious then it might be worth getting an expert opinion.

Many of your garden plants are still dormant but with the mild weather, in sheltered areas grass growth has continued through the winter. If you’re lucky enough to have winter flowering shrubs in your garden, there will be a bit of colour to enjoy and maybe even a little perfumed scent in the air. Bulbs will have made their first appearance or be well on their way. It can be very satisfying to see the first signs of new life for the new season.

One word of caution though: don’t be too hasty to lift any plants that you think may not have survived the winter. It is sometimes surprising to see how new growth can spring from apparently dead plants once the weather warms a little. But if you’re confident the plant is dead then lift and dispose of it with any other garden waste.

With maybe the odd bare patch to consider, a trip to the garden centre may inspire you. Container plants can be planted at just about any time of the year, though my preference would be to leave things a little while longer until the ground is more workable. Don’t forget too that if you’ve had your garden built or renovated by a Garden Landscaper, they will be pleased to hear from you if you would like any advice about your plants – and having spent a great deal of care designing and building your garden, would appreciate hearing how it is developing.

And don’t forget too that garden birds will still be struggling to find food. If you can, put some wild bird food out for them and some ice free clean water. You’ll be able to enjoy seeing them eat the food and drink the water. If we get a bit of warmth and sunshine they might even have a splash around for a bath.

Gardening Services Nottingham

Landart Landscapes – Landscape Gardeners in Nottingham

January – Garden Maintenance – Nottingham.

Average temperatures: 1.0°C / 6.3°C                      10 Day Weather Forecast
Average rainfall: 2.6 inches
Average sunshine: 50.5 hours

It’s now winter and most plants are dormant. But there are still plenty of jobs to be done in the garden. As average night-time temperatures continue to drop, frost becomes quite likely. Tender plants will die and semi-tender plants need extra looking after. Garden structures take a beating as water freezes and expands. Here’s what you should be paying attention to in January:

Paths and steps – if at all damp then a hard frost can do considerable damage to the structure. Brickwork and paving joints can crack and move, especially if not well constructed. Besides being unsightly, this can be a dangerous trip hazard.

If water isn’t draining away properly and the garden structures remain waterlogged, consider remedial work to improve the drainage once better weather arrives. In the meantime, grit and salt (keeping it away from ponds, soil and plants) will help keep everything less slippery.

Ponds – Large natural ponds should manage the cold weather well. Smaller, ornamental ponds, especially if you have fish, will benefit from leaving a tennis ball or similar floating on the surface. As the water freezes this will help reduce the problems arising from ice expansion and your fish will appreciate that too.

Greenhouses – If not already done in the Autumn, greenhouses should be cleaned and disinfected to help keep disease free in the coming growing months.

Lawn – Now would be a good time to get your lawnmower serviced if needed. Although not growing, grass needs light to stay alive so sweep any fallen leaves or other debris away. If you have any damaged areas, new turf can be laid if the weather is due to be dry and mild for the next week or two. If at all unsure, leave until early spring.

Plants – It’s probably too late if you’ve left tender plants out in the garden. Semi-tender plants will benefit from being moved to a frost protected area if in pots, or wrapped in bubble wrap if ground planted. Plants that can be pruned this month include Apples and Pears (not if a hard frost is due) and if grown in grass, they would benefit from a nitrogenous feed. Now is also a good time to spray various fruiting trees and bushes to control over-wintering insect pests.

Trees – January is often windy. Young trees should be staked to minimise possible wind damage and checked periodically for firmness. If older, larger trees become damaged, get all broken and cracked branches removed to reduce the chance of further damage or injury.

Wildlife – There’s not a great deal of natural food around for garden birds to feed on. Why not put out a bird feeder and ice-free water for them?

Gardening Services Nottingham

Landart Landscapes – Landscape Gardeners in Nottingham

Coming soon . . . .

We are working on a new feature for the site: a monthly gardening diary to remind you of all the jobs you should be doing each month!

Please check back later for January’s Diary entry.

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