January Tasks In The Garden

I'm in a list writing mood - have written a rather lengthy one for things to do in general at Kilcoan Gardens this year - I like to aim high but don't mind if all of it doesn't get a tick - isn't the tick the most satisying part?!

When I look at photos of the garden, I cannot believe how much it has changed & developed over the past few years but I still feel that there is so much more that I want to do and NOW! But that's the beauty of gardening - you really can achieve that instant makeover look with a new border or in some neglected corner....far more exciting than boring old housework.

Here are 2 photos of the cottage garden - one taken in March and one in July - how nature can explode forth into such growth is amazing.

January is a great time for planning and dreaming of the months ahead, browse through your seed catalogues, check out garden ideas on pinterest, borrow a book from the library and check out what style of garden floats your boat. I like the English country garden look with sweeping borders....I can dream on.

If the weather is pleasant enough, you can work through a few tasks in the garden.

• If you have left your borders untouched before winter, to provide shelter for wildlife, you can start now to cut back perennials (still leave a messy pile in the corner for wildlife), clear weeds and mulch with compost or leafmould but be careful not to damage emerging spring bulbs - it's been a mild winter so far and some bulbs will be showing.
• If you have a greenhouse or sunny windowsill, you can sow some salad crops for young leaves.
• Finish pruning your fruit trees click here for useful advice from the RHS.
• Garlic can be planted outside now - you can buy it from garden centres or online - simply break the bulb into individual cloves and push into the soil 10cm apart. See here for further info.

Happy gardening!