How Does Your Garden Grow?
A new year in the garden
January is a great time to take stock of your garden and plan for the year ahead. Bord Bia Bloom’s Show Gardens and Horticulture Content Manager, Kerrie Gardiner, tells us about what she will tackle this month and offers some advice for gardening in the weeks to come.
I would describe my garden as… rugged, relaxed and family-friendly. I live in the West with my husband, two sons, and two dogs so my garden has to be able to withstand the elements – and being trampled by paws and bashed by balls!
My favourite plant at this time of year is… witch hazel. It’s wonderful to see the small delicate flowers of the witch hazel bring pops of colour to the garden in January. Holly is also a great plant to have in the garden, not only does it bring festive cheer to the garden at Christmas, it is the gift that keeps giving in the new year, providing crucial sustenance for birds and mammals through the lean winter months.
Hellebores and heathers are also favourites. Flowering now into spring, they add colour and interest through winter and are another important source of food for early emerging pollinators.
Now is a good time for… planting bareroot hedging. The dormant season, spanning from late October/early November into March, is the best time of year to plant bareroot hedges or trees and this is a great job to tackle in the quiet month of January – if weather permits!
Consider a mixed species hedges, such as whitethorn, hazel, elder, spindle, guelder rose, holly and field maple which look beautiful and support wildlife. If you want a single species hedge another favourite is green beech hedge which holds its dead leaves over winter until the new leaves emerge in spring. If you have wet ground, consider hornbeam over beech for a similar look. The team in your local garden centre or nursery will be able to help you choose the best specimens to suit the location and orientation of your garden.
In my garden in winter I try to… resist the urge to tidy up! If you can bear to look at wilting perennials then hold off pruning until spring. The seedheads provide food and shelter for pollinators and invertebrates and offer the plant some protection from the harsh elements.
Leave fallen leaves on the ground where possible. They provide a welcome habitat for invertebrates and help to replenish the soil by releasing vital nutrients as they decompose. If it snows, it is a good idea to shake the snow off plants so that they are not exposed to excess cold or frost.
Don’t forget to… storm-proof your garden if you haven’t already tackled it. With storm season in full swing it’s important to check on your trees and climbers. Make sure the stakes are secure on younger trees and add new ties and wires if required. Also check climbers or delicate plants that might additional support. It’s worth remembering our feathered friends too and leave out food in the winter months. Place bird food in a positions that small birds can reach and feel secure approaching.
This month on Bord Bia Bloom… we’re finalising the list of show gardens, sponsors and designers for our next festival which will be held in the Phoenix Park on the June bank holiday weekend. Our Garden Advisory Group of show garden judges and horticulture experts have reviewed initial designs and provided feedback, and we will soon announce the winner of our Cultivating Talent programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture, which will provide one up and coming designer with funding and support to create their first show garden at this year’s event.
It’s a very exciting time to work on Bloom! Our plans for the festival are .
