Winter - the time for Armchair Gardening

We can all say, at the very least, that it has been a very peculiar year, 2020. A pandemic that was not in view this time last year for the UK, has turned this year upside down for all of us. Although many of us have been retreated to isolation to protect ourselves and others, one thing that has not been taken away from us is our gardens. Our gardens have kept us active and made us more adventurous, as we have had more time to tender our plots. It has to be said, it gave ourselves an enormous wellbeing structure to our lives during the isolation period and the trend is set to continue as we go into a second lockdown isolation period prior to Christmas.

Being in the month of solstice, or Christmas spirits, when the sun rises late, yet, sets early, and when average UK temperatures sulk around 5, or 6 degrees Celsius, it is a time of quiet on the plot. Perhaps some digging-in of organic matter – if that’s your style – as it’s easier now than in January – and to top-up leaf mould and compost. Most plants in the garden will stop growing when temperatures hit anything from 10 degrees Celsius and below, especially grass, so the lawn mower will have a well-deserved break from garden duties.

It is a month to tidy, but, not too much. You might want to leave sheltered places for garden creatures smaller than us to hide and hibernate, or for the birds to find somewhere out of the way to find food different from what’s on the birdfeeder. Even seed plants are welcome for birds to feed on. Some flowers in the garden that have died away, their blooms are good for insects to hide in, such as, sunflowers, in which many bugs hibernate in the stems of these tall flowers.

Clean any seed trays and plant pots, take care of your tools if you have not done so. Linseed-oil wooden handles, sharpen steel, clean copper. Give the greenhouse a good all round clean, both inside and out, getting rid of mould, moss and clean the glass ready for the next year. Any stone work, like, statues and pathways, you can get jet washed and give them a good clean to bring them back to life.

If you live in a sheltered spot, it is your last chance to plant garlic for the next few months. Still time too, for bare root fruit trees and bushes. Bare rooted roses can be planted in sheltered gardens where the ground is warm, but, ideally mid-winter is not a good time to plant them, far better towards the end of winter into spring. Some new varieties of roses from breeders are advertised plentiful. One of the new charming roses on the market is the Roald Dahl rose, to mark the storyteller’s memory, with the very plush, delicate coloured apricot flowers of this rose.

Otherwise, slow down, look around, take stock of what grew well and where. Think about rotation, about what you might do differently in the garden next year. It’s getting near the months of armchair gardening, but please keep popping by to check on ponds and top up bird feeders if you have them.

Stay closer to home, scour the catalogues, get lost on interesting gardening sites, check through seeds, discard outrageously out-of-date packets. Take time to remember your gardening year and both flowers and its harvest. Start to make plans for next year. It’s also the perfect time to look for new plants and flowers for your garden, new varieties to make more vigour and keep your interest in your flourishing garden wellness.

©Rob Knowlittle, December 2020 @drjohngardening