Calne News is excited to announce that we have teamed up with a Calne based garden designer who will be bringing you monthly gardening news throughout the year.
Meet Alex:
'I am Alex, the owner of Calne-based garden design company, Sulis Design Ltd. My design-only service focuses on low maintenance, climate resilient gardens and borders for my clients to enjoy and relax in. I also offer a garden lighting design service to create atmosphere, provide security and increase garden usage into the evenings in an environmentally conscious way.
With this gardening section of Calne News, I hope to provide design insights along with some monthly gardening tasks to get the most out of your garden through the year.
January may seem like an unlikely time to think about gardening, but this month can provide opportunity to plan, redesign and sow seeds for the year ahead; even if the weather may not be ideal.
Take a mug of tea into the garden, find a spot to sit and look at it, then move to another area to view it from a different perspective. Gardens are 3-dimensional spaces and rarely experienced from just one angle. Moving around your space allows you to properly assess and plan the space you want to enjoy and work in. Taking some notes and pictures will help you identify which element of your garden you would like to develop over the coming year.
One of the key things to think about is its structure. With deciduous trees and shrubs, perennials and other plant life hidden away; waiting for spring, you will be able to see the bare bones. Perhaps ask yourself, does the garden feel balanced or is it lacking a tree or shrub, are you overlooked by a neighbour or do you need shelter from prevailing winds or sun and does it have enough winter interest and habitat from plants like hydrangea and ornamental grasses?
If you look at your garden and you are happy with the structure and winter interest of your garden, then perhaps your plans will be which annuals, vegetables and perennials you will be trying this year to make your garden really flourish.
Already many seed catalogues have come through my letter box with exciting and new varieties of perennials, annuals, fruit and vegetables. I know I am looking forward to seeing the shoots of my seeds coming through and planning for the gardening year ahead.
January’s garden tasks
Top up bird feeders and ensure there is access to clean water for wildlife
Trim back dead hellebore leaves to allow new growth but remember to wear gloves as these
plants are toxic
Plant out any remaining spring bulbs you didn’t manage to plant out before Christmas. This is
your last chance to get them in soil.
Sow sweet pea and chilli seeds indoors either in propagators or a windowsill.
Start chitting early varieties potatoes by placing them somewhere warm, dry and bright.
Plant out deciduous, bare rooted, trees and shrubs (as long as the ground isn’t frozen).
Clean and service your garden tools if you haven’t already, ready for the season ahead.
Clean your greenhouse and cold frame interiors ready for the 2025 growing season.
