|
|
|
|
|
|
| Winter Gardening Jobs |
Gardening Jobs for the Winter:
This is one of the worst periods of the gardening calendar and one that brings with it a different range of tasks and activities in order to keep the garden in shape. Primarily, tasks outside will include maintenance of the grounds and plants already in position, carrying out key festive tasks and working lightly in the greenhouse.
- In the garden, care should be taken to ensure that the paths remain clear and that the leaves dropped during the Autumn period are cleared efficiently and effectively. At the same time now is a good period to clear drainpipes and gutters from leaf debris and detritus in order to improve water flow to water butts and prevent disease from decomposing leaf slime inside the butt itself. Adding a small amount of horticulturally friendly anti-bacterial to the water butt at this time may also be beneficial. Drives should be devoid of all moss build-up with a pressure washer to avoid becoming slippery when frozen and concrete cleaned too.
- In the greenhouse, you should regularly check the dampness of the soils in potted plants, as they will still dry out remarkably quickly even in cold conditions. At the same time, avoid watering on the leaves late in the evening, as they may well freeze during the night causing irreparable damage. Any plants infected with grey mould should be immediately removed from the greenhouse and destroyed. You should also pay particular attention to any possibility of greenfly build up and treat these accordingly using either organic methods or a chemical based treatment. You might also like to ensure that plants are propagated effectively at this time, including taking a few mint cuttings.
- During the festive season, several bagfuls of paper and card waste will no doubt be generated. Rather than recycling these materials, it has become customary in my house, to burn this material in a small pit in the garden, later using the potash and burnt embers to enrich the garden, massively increasing the mineral contents of the soil. Creating this soil conditioner also acts as an opportunity to teach younger members of the family the dangers of fire and to practice fire safety with them in a real life post Christmas bonfire situation. The benefits here are clearly twofold.
In conclusion, you will now have completed a full gardening calendar year. No doubt you will have points that you wish to build upon, successes that you wish to replicate and disasters that you rather wish were forgotten! In the long run, gardening is exactly about that, having a go, messing up and getting on with the job in hand. It is this that sets gardeners apart from most others – we really do learn from our mistakes!! Good luck.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Latest Organic Vegetables Gardening Articles |
| 
|
Preparing Your Garden for Spring
January 23, 2010
Now that winter is looking like it is almost over, (although we will get frost in Feb I expect) now is a great time to get all those leaves and debris off your lawn. It is an important job before you get die back where the lawn is devoid of sunlight.
Also - if you had lots of snow - you probably |
| Read More.. |
|
|
|
|
| Organic Vegetable Gardening Feature Article |
| Jobs to do in May (Growing Techniques and Planting) Part 2 |
Details |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Gardening Fairs & Events |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your Recent History (Recently Viewed Articles)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
