CATEGORIES

Eco-friendly overhaul

There are lots of easy, enjoyable ways to be more eco-friendly in the garden in 2022. The result will be healthier plants and an abundance of wildlife

Are you doing your bit?

Val looks at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint

Learn and plan

How we respond to mistakes and take that knowledge forward can really benefit next year’s crops, says Bob

Grow more winter colour

Anne Swithinbank’s masterclass on: winter colour

Seeds you can sow now

Crops and flowers can be started this month

Temporary bare-root storage

What do you do if your bare-root plant arrives, but the weather stops you planting it? Steve and Val Bradley describe the options available to make sure your plants survive

Berried treasure

There’s a pecking order among birds for berries, says Val

Environmental truths

Sphagnum moss can be regenerated, says Peter

New Year resolutions

The key jobs that Ruth will try to keep on top of in 2022

The bark club

At this time of year, after the leaves have fallen, trees with textured bark come into their own. Camilla Phelps reveals some great examples that you can plant now

The right care for camellias

Camellias have many forms and need selective planting, but when you get it right the rewards are great, says Graham Rice. He explains how to care for this oriental beauty

Maximum veg whatever your space

Make 2022 your best veg-growing year ever with Huw Richards’ action plan for big harvests year-round – whatever the size of your plot

Fresh from the plot

On Rekha’s allotment, it’s all about flavour as she shares expert advice for the tastiest harvests. This month she shows how to grow Savoy cabbage and enjoy it with a little spice

YOUR PRUNING MONTH

Frances Tophill shows you how to get overgrown shrubs back in shape over the winter

Potatoes five ways

We put spuds to the test by growing them using five different methods to reveal which is best for high yields and your growing space

Your wildlife month

January is a miserable month. The days are short, dark and often damp, and most wildlife is still hibernating. But there are glimpses of spring on the horizon. Birds are starting to pair up. Blue tits and great tits will be looking for nest sites – it will be a while before they start to breed but you may spot them prospecting nest boxes or even roosting in them. Natural sources of food are in their shortest supply, so keep bird feeders topped up, and consider leaving halved apples on the ground for blackbirds and thrushes. Leave the berries on ivy until the birds have eaten them – they contain more calories per gram than a bar of chocolate and can help birds get into shape for breeding in a few weeks.

10 steps to a greener garden

If you’re keen to grow greener, but not sure where to start, here are some simple suggestions. However big or small your garden, we have constructive actions you can take right now that don’t require dramatic changes or lots of extra effort. So just pick one or two from our list and give them a try. We’ll cover all of these topics in more detail in the coming months

Expert's choice - Snowdrops

There is a huge range to choose from, with varying sizes, markings and prices

A-Z of House Plants

Give a bright room a burst of colour with an exotic urn plant

Clippings Calls for Sustainable Gardening

Our roundup of the month’s latest gardening news and views

Deck the walls with boughs of colour

Want to cover a bare wall or shed? Winter is a great time to plant climbers that will add cheering colour to the garden next spring and summer, says Hazel Sillver

Curiouser and curiouser

Plants are among the oldest inhabitants of earth and in that time they have managed to evolve some amazing ways to survive, as Anne Swithinbank explains

Greenhouse insulation

Steve and Val Bradley explain how to protect your greenhouse plants this winter

Facts about pholcids

You may not know their name, but you’ve probably seen these tiny-bodied, long-legged insects indoors, says Val

Christmas wreaths

Why not look to your garden for some traditional Christmas decorations, and make the festive season truly organic and personal, says Anne Swithinbank

Pruning fruit trees

It’s time to give free-standing trees a trim, says Ruth

Reusing Christmas waste

You can upcycle the downside of Christmas, says Ruth

Facts about bracts

Would you describe your poinsettia as having red leaves or red flowers? Actually, the red leaf-like structures are bracts. We look at plants that have bracts as a major feature

Festive forays in the garden

Make time for getting outside this Christmas, says Ruth

The holly and the ivy

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without the holly and the ivy, but have you thought about growing your own? Graham Rice suggests some interesting varieties