Herts &amp; Beds


<p>No British garden is a thing of beauty in January, (looking out of my window at the beds full of rotting brown plant matter make me weep a little!) but a bit of TLC now will pay off handsomely come spring and summer.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="811" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Andrew-Luke-insta-wrest-park-1000x811.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75030" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Andrew-Luke-insta-wrest-park-1000x811.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Andrew-Luke-insta-wrest-park-800x649.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Andrew-Luke-insta-wrest-park-648x525.jpg 648w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Andrew-Luke-insta-wrest-park.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd6e7kdKRnE/?hl=en-gb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@plantgrafter</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>And you can get some fresh air and exercise while you&#8217;re at it (lycra not necessary!). Andrew Luke, Head Gardener at <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wrest Park</a>, English Heritage in Silsoe, Beds, and former Arboretum nursery supervisor at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, suggests getting stuck into these tasks right away.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-bare-root-trees-and-shrubs">Plant bare root trees and shrubs</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/hedge-manuel-t-xf1nszrKH_s-unsplash-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75032" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/hedge-manuel-t-xf1nszrKH_s-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/hedge-manuel-t-xf1nszrKH_s-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/hedge-manuel-t-xf1nszrKH_s-unsplash-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/hedge-manuel-t-xf1nszrKH_s-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Buying roses, fruit trees and hedging plants now will save you money in the long term. From late autumn into winter it’s possible to buy them ‘bare-root’ which means they are sold without a container and usually very little soil around the roots. This is especially worthwhile if you’re buying several &#8211; if you want to plant a hedge for example. However, they’ll need to planted soon after being bought. If short on time, plant them into a temporary spot in the garden until you have time to place them in their permanent home. At this time of year, the plants are dormant and the soil is moist so it’s ideal conditions for planting trees and shrubs, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pruning apple and pear trees</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/pear-tree-joanna-stolowicz-cfxnOUSLrgk-unsplash-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75033" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/pear-tree-joanna-stolowicz-cfxnOUSLrgk-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/pear-tree-joanna-stolowicz-cfxnOUSLrgk-unsplash-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/pear-tree-joanna-stolowicz-cfxnOUSLrgk-unsplash-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/pear-tree-joanna-stolowicz-cfxnOUSLrgk-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Start by removing any dead, damaged and diseased material, then look for any crossing branches or those that are rubbing against each other. Use sharp and clean secateurs on anything finger sized or smaller and a pruning saw or loppers on anything bigger. Prune no more than 20% of the tree in total, keeping an eye on cut branches piling up on the ground, to make sure you don’t go overboard (you&#8217;ll have to clear them up afterwards, remember!). Every now and again stop and step back to study the tree as a whole, ensuring you are creating a well-balanced shape. Removing too much growth at once will encourage the tree to produce water shoots, which are unruly, fast-growing stems that will distort the shape of your tree. Wait until the following year to prune further and continue shaping your tree.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Garden machinery</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/lawn-mower-richard-catabay-ydzKb7g32q0-unsplash_Fotor-1000x750.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75035" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/lawn-mower-richard-catabay-ydzKb7g32q0-unsplash_Fotor-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/lawn-mower-richard-catabay-ydzKb7g32q0-unsplash_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/lawn-mower-richard-catabay-ydzKb7g32q0-unsplash_Fotor-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/lawn-mower-richard-catabay-ydzKb7g32q0-unsplash_Fotor-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/lawn-mower-richard-catabay-ydzKb7g32q0-unsplash_Fotor-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>While you likely won’t much be using your garden machinery such as lawn mower this season, now is a good time to get it out and check whether it needs a repair or service. Machinery will last a lot longer when looked after. Give it all a check over and a clean. Check blades on lawn mowers and hedge cutters and get them sharpened if they are blunt &#8211; they will provide you with a far better cut. Also make sure that the place you keep your equipment is clean, dry and secure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prune and train Wisteria</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/annie-spratt-FHPpz2JGRdg-unsplash-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75031" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/annie-spratt-FHPpz2JGRdg-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/annie-spratt-FHPpz2JGRdg-unsplash-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/annie-spratt-FHPpz2JGRdg-unsplash-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/annie-spratt-FHPpz2JGRdg-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Wisteria should be pruned twice a year. It helps to remember the ‘two Js’ rule: prune in either June or July (to remove unwanted leafy growth, as wisterias put this on very fast and can quickly get out of control), then prune again in January. Cut back any stems coming away from the main framework to two or three buds. This will provide you with more flowers close to the body of the plant and less leafy growth hiding them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Planning ahead</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/gardening-trowel-neslihan-gunaydin-BduDcrySLKM-unsplash-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75034" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/gardening-trowel-neslihan-gunaydin-BduDcrySLKM-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/gardening-trowel-neslihan-gunaydin-BduDcrySLKM-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/gardening-trowel-neslihan-gunaydin-BduDcrySLKM-unsplash-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/gardening-trowel-neslihan-gunaydin-BduDcrySLKM-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Now’s the time to think about what you want to grow this coming year. If you are wanting to grow from seed, order them in now. This is also the same for dahlia tubers, summer flowering bulbs and seed potatoes. If you didn’t already order in the autumn, you haven&#8217;t missed the boat. You can also start to plan when to start growing and whether you&#8217;ll need additional items such as propagation cloches.</p>



<p><strong>You can find Andrew Luke&#8217;s behind-the-scenes views of Wrest Park and his own garden on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/plantgrafter/?hl=en-gb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@plantgrafter</a></strong></p>


5 things you should be doing in your garden now

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