26 December 2023 , 15:09
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Monty Don has shared the essential gardening rituals he conducts every Boxing Day to ensure his garden looks stunning.
Getting out in the garden the day after hours of festive feasting, drinking, dancing, singing, and opening presents, can be a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. What's more, you can also get plenty of outdoor jobs done while you have the time.
68-year-old Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don says the "gardening days are absurdly short" when it starts turning dark by 4.30pm. So getting out when you can over the period between Christmas and New Year could help you have a more pleasant garden come spring.
Monty confessed on his own personal blog his garden is "not a fun place" to be. He added: "There are leaves to collect, last-minute tulips to plant, perhaps even trees or shrubs to plant as well." The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has listed some tips to help your Boxing Day gardening, as reported by the Daily Express.
Planting shrubs
Planting can be "quick and easy", especially for small shrubs, the RHS noted. Make sure the ground isn't too wet or frozen when it comes to planting the shrubs, whether they be rose shrubs or holly shrubs.
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What you will need to plant a shrub:
- Shrub
- Bucket of water
- Watering can or hose
- Spade and fork
- Cane
- Garden compost
- Mulch.
Firstly, gardeners should make sure the rootball is completely soaked in water before planting. Next, dig a hole the same depth as the rootball, but three times as wide.
Next, check the roots to see if they are circling around the pot; if so, gently loosen them so they can grow outwards into the soil. Position the shrub inside of the hole so that its first flare of roots sits just below the surface of the soil.
The RHS said: "To check it’s at the right level, lay a cane (a slender, straight, length of woody plant material, usually bamboo) across the hole to show where the soil surface will be. Then step back and assess the shrub – is it showing off its best side? If not, turn it until you’re happy with the positioning."
Refill the hole and spread mulch, then plant the shrub.
As for Monty Don's Boxing Day ritual, he said: "I always sow some seeds on Boxing Day - onions, chillies, some tomatoes."
Planting tulips
The RHS said that tulip bulbs need to be spaced at least twice their width apart when planted. This could be a job to get sorted on Boxing Day.
Bulbs need to be planted at a depth of up to three times their height, with the pointed end of the bulb facing upwards towards the sky. Tulips create a more natural look when planted in odd numbers, and they prefer more alkaline soil (a pH of six or more), so if the soil is acidic (lower than a pH of six), apply lime to the soil.
The RHS stated: "In areas with very cold winters, tulips benefit from deeper planting to protect them from penetrating frosts."
Do you have a gardening tip or story you'd like to share? Get in touch via [email protected].