08 January 2024 , 11:44
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Despite the terrible weather, it's time to get back into the garden.
British horticulturist and BBC star Monty Don is urging Brits to embrace the cold and put on their gardening gloves, as some jobs are extremely time-sensitive. The expert says now is a great time to prune fruit trees and decorative shrubs, as well as mulching and garden composting.
This month is also the best time to 'deadhead' your roses correctly and help them survive the harsh wind. But January is also the cut-off point for planting a certain flower if you want to see them bloom this spring.
Writing for his eponymous blog MontyDon.com, the Gardener's World presenter says it's not too late to plant tulips, but that gardeners "really do need to get on with it". "Tulips planted now might flower a little later than those planted in November but they will make a perfectly good display," he added.
The broadcaster says tulips should be planted in the ground as "deeply as you can" - if you intend to leave them in the ground. "But if you just want a good show this year they can be popped an inch or two in the topsoil and will be fine for this spring," he explained.
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Don says when planting tulips in a container, it is vital they have "good drainage" as the flower's "biggest enemy" is rotting in damp soil. He added that this job needs to be done by the middle of January "at the latest".
Monty Don says there are lots of gardening jobs that need doing, despite the winter weather (Mikal Ludlow Photography)Want big stories with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter
In the same post, Don also urged Brits not to throw away their Christmas poinsettia, arguing the festive plant still has months of life left. In fact, the vibrantly red plants, which are indigenous to Central America, can thrive in 2024 with "little care".
"They are only really comfortable in damp warmth," Don explained. "They do not like cool nights, very hot dry rooms or big fluctuations in temperatures, so keep them where there is a constant average temperature, avoiding draughts, cold windows or even very bright spots that can get very hot in the middle of the day."
It is recommended to give the plants a "really good soak". To do this, stand the pot in a sink of water for around 10 minutes. Then, let the excess water drain from the pot.
What's your top gardening tip? Let us know in the comments section below