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Happy New Year 2012!

January to do list

Monthly advice on jobs to be done in the garden during January

I still have pink roses in my garden, purple flowers on my perennial wallflower and scabious and amazingly still a few tiny strawberries so it really has been a mild winter this year. Make the most of the quiet time of year in the garden, structural plants and trees are dormant so it's a good time of year to look at your garden and plan changes or just sit back and enjoy your winter garden and watch the visiting wildlife.

Cleaning

On warm sunny winter days, get organised and clean old pots and used seedtrays ready for Spring

Wildlife in your garden

Keep putting out food and water for the birds to help them through the cold winter months. Birds plump up their feathers to keep themselves warm so don't assume they all look fat and healthy, they could be cold and hungry.

10 great plants that provide birds with a food source and also add winter colour to your garden

(taken from Gardener's World magazine, Nov 2010)

1) Holly - Ilex aquifolium - Autumn/Winter berries

2) Ivy - Hedera helix - Insects in Autumn and Winter berries

3) Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna - Haws (berry)

4) Honeysuckle - Lonicera periclymenum - Autumn berries and Summer insects

5) Teasel -Dipsacus fullonum - Autumn/Winter seedheads

6) Rowan - Sorbus aucuparia - 'Red' berries in Autumn

7) Cotoneaster - Autumn berries

8) Guelder rose - viburnum opulus - Berries Nov-Mar

9) Sunflower - Helianthus annuus - seedheads provide oil rich nourishment

10) Shrub rose - Rosa species - juicy rose hips, the largest area produced by Rosa rugosa

Winter containers

Add some colour to your garden and plant up colourful cyclamen winter containers. Raise your containers on feet or bricks to prevent waterlogging

Lawns

Aerate your lawn with a garden fork or aerator

Pruning

Clip deciduous hedges, trim the top and one side per year

Seeds

Start to get organised and order seeds and summer bulbs, make a list of the best time to sow and plant so you don't miss out

Weeds

Keep on removing any persistent weeds

Kitchen garden

Start chitting early potatoes in a bright indoor room

Garlic, onions and broadbeans can be planted out towards the end of January

Compost

Keep on composting all your raw fruit and vegetable food waste, egg cartons, brown paper, teabags and egg shells

Please take a look at our portfolio for pictures of completed projects.

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