We're in mid-January, and it's pouring rain outside. The storm is blowing, and the thermometer shows two degrees. Yet, I dream of a warm morning tea in the garden, when the first rays of sunshine gently touch my face, accompanied by the song of birds and the buzzing of insects among the flowers.
I should wait a bit longer for that. Although I love winter and all its shades, both the greys and the whites, the mere thought of spring enchants me and gives me a sudden burst of motivation to act.
I wonder which plants I will plant this year and how I will arrange my little green space. It's at this moment that I feel a sense of well-being and an irresistible desire to visit my favourite café on rue de la Madeleine.
When to start the first garden tasks?
On this cold day in January, we can reflect on how to prepare for spring. When do the first garden tasks begin? In reality, it starts as early as autumn when we prune decorative grasses or plant flower bulbs. However, even if we haven't started before January, it's not a problem. It might already be too late for snowdrops, but in January and February, there are many other tasks to perform to prepare our garden for early spring.
When and how to prune for better results?
Let's start by pruning trees and shrubs. The precise rules for pruning each plant can be easily found on the internet, but the general rule is to prune in winter the plants that bloom only in the second half of the year, such as buddleias. It's already too late to prune spring-flowering plants. For example, quince trees should have been pruned last year after flowering so that the new shoots have time to form and mature before winter. Indeed, it is on these shoots that the flowers will appear the following spring.
What to plant in winter in anticipation of spring?
Do you want to cultivate blueberries this year? Great! Unless it freezes, we can already prepare a suitable place with acidic soil and start planting the bushes. Blueberries are not the only plants that can be planted in winter, again, provided there is no frost.
Perennial Rudbeckia, bare-root roses, hedges, flowering snowdrops and hellebores can already be included in our planting activities.
I love changing and adding different plants to the garden, even if the overall layout is already prepared. For instance, new flower bulbs planted in the fall will refresh the appearance of the garden early in the year. There are also many annual plants that can enrich our flower beds for a season. I recommend experimenting a bit in the garden – it personally gives me a lot of pleasure!
Sowing in preparation for spring
The beginning of the calendar year is also a good time to sow certain plants under a greenhouse or indoors. In February, for example, I will sow lavender and hot peppers. Once the last frosts have passed, preferably in May, I can transplant them outdoors. It will take some patience, as the whole process takes a few months, but it's truly worth the wait. It's very rewarding to see the seeds we sowed transform into a beautiful, robust plant in the growing season!
When to plan your garden?
Garden planning itself is an activity I recommend starting in the fall, but the winter period is also a good time to plan. If someone plans to consult a landscape architect or wants to prepare a simple project on their own, it's best to delve into this topic no later than winter.
So, grab a cup of hot tea or coffee, get comfortable, and enjoy these grey winter days as much as possible, slowly starting to plan what will happen soon in your garden!
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