Helen's monthly choice - January
Written by: Helen Derrin
Last updated: December 2023
Our gardens are never going to look their best at this time of the year, but on clear frosty mornings, or when tucked under a blanket of snow, they can still look pretty magical. Also, now that everything has died right back to its bare bones, we're given the opportunity to really look at the underlying structure of the garden, and decide if it needs an overhaul. At this time of year, it's the evergreens that take centre-stage, providing structure and colour (and a haven for wildlife). The best winter gardens will all have a high percentage of evergreen plants, whether it's in the form of clipped topiary and hedging, or some well-placed bushy shrubs - so if your garden is crying out for a little more winter interest, they're well worth investing in. Think of them as focal points - and always check how they look from the house before settling them into the ground…it is afterall where you'll be spending most of your time over the next couple of months.
If you do get a heavy snowfall, it's worth spending 5 minutes knocking it off shrubs and small trees to stop them collapsing under the weight. Also, if you have not already done so, you can start to sow seeds of hardy annuals like sweet peas. This quick and easy project can be tackled at the kitchen table while enjoying a mug of steaming tea - just make sure the pots are left outside in a coldframe or unheated greenhouse once the seeds have gone in. It might seem a long way off, but come summer when you're picking lashings of highly scented flowers, you'll be so glad you did.
