Background information
The black gold of the garden - setting up a compost bin
by Madeleine Bello
Garden calendar: January
12.1.2017
Translation: machine translated
The gardening year begins in January. There is always something to do, whether there is still snow or not. You can check the tools, consider new purchases and make plans. The first lettuces are growing in the garden and you don't have to do without fresh herbs either.
Planning the garden year
Are you already feeling the anticipation of your garden blooming, creeping and flying? Use this energy to plan your gardening year. You can get fresh ideas for the new year from gardening magazines or specialised literature. Work out what you want to plant where and, above all, when. What is still missing in your herb corner? Which vegetables have you always wanted to try? Or would you even like to create a garden pond?
A sketch of the available space is helpful. Of course, you should differentiate between usable and non-usable areas (paths, stone slabs). You should also draw in immovable features such as trees and shrubs. Don't forget the sunlight: where does it really burn down in summer and where are the shady spots?
Tip: On terraces, you can increase the area with raised beds, planter boxes or pots. On a balcony, this is the only but very interesting option for a small garden.
It's best to copy the finished sketch several times.
On the plan, of course, take into account the growing seasons of the various plants. Experienced gardeners know which plants bloom or bear fruit from when to when and thus achieve almost year-round floral splendour and harvest. It's not just us humans who like this: insects, birds and other creatures also enjoy the diversity.
Once you have made your plans, you will know what work needs to be done and when, so that you can achieve your goals.
General work
Snow
If there's still snow outside, it needs to be shovelled away. No joke: in Switzerland the landowner is liable to a certain extent for accidents caused by slippery snow or ice on their land. For smaller areas, a snow shovel is sufficient; for larger areas or amounts of snow, it may be worth purchasing a snow blower. road salt melts away the last layer. Be careful, the water should always run off into the drainage system, as plants don't like salt at all. Don't forget to shake the snow off shrubs and trees to prevent twigs or even branches from breaking off. Garden sheds also need to be cleared of snow regularly.
Tool care
A mild winter's day is a good opportunity to tidy up and spruce up tools, storage boxes and garden sheds. Tools are spick and span and have no earth residue. Stubborn dirt can be removed with a wire brush. Rusty spots can be cleaned with steel wool. Your appliances will last longer if you maintain them regularly with oil. Do not use machine oil, but a non-toxic, vegetable household oil that you apply to absorbent paper or a cloth and rub into the metal.
Clean out the seeds
It's not just the garden shed that needs tidying up. Now is also a good time to muck out the seeds. You can keep strong, high-quality seeds from last year. You should dispose of older seeds - it's just annoying when you realise too late that half of the carrots won't grow because the seed was spoiled. Older flower seeds can be scattered on a meadow at random; in the worst case, nothing will grow, in the best case, you can enjoy the unexpected splendour of the flowers together with butterflies and bees.
Care for the garden shed and tool shed
Garden sheds or storage boxes made of wood will stay beautiful and airtight for longer if you reglaze them regularly. Soft wood needs more frequent care than harder wood. The glaze keeps fungi away from the wood and delays weather damage. A distinction is made between thin-layer glaze (absorbs into the wood) and thick-layer glaze (shines like varnish). If you have a thin-layer glaze in front of you, simply apply a new layer. Peeling thick-layer glazes must be professionally sanded or stained before applying a new coat.
Turning compost
If you have compost in the garden, you can turn it in a mild January (or if you have a thermal composter) and get the first soil for spring. If you don't have compost yet: You can significantly reduce your waste volume with this. Properly maintained compost hardly develops any odours. Madeleine shows you how it's done:
Plants in January
Winter pruning
January is a good time to prepare fruit and berry bushes for the season if you haven't already done so. Autumn or winter pruning promotes crop yield and plant health. A good pair of garden shears will help with this work. Protect young trees with a coat of white lime. This prevents the trunk from cracking and injuring the young tree if it is exposed to the sun on one side.
Turf
If your lawn never gets really nice, the cause may be the wrong soil climate. As soon as the last thick snow melts away at the end of January, you can lime your lawn. By adding lime, you increase the pH value of the soil. The lawn feels best at a pH value of 5.0-6.5 (slightly acidic), as the roots can optimally absorb nutrients.
The problem with this is that it is difficult to determine the exact pH value (without professional help). Rule of thumb: If the lawn is used intensively, tends to be in the shade and has moss, the soil is too compact. Waterlogging occurs and these soils are susceptible to over-acidification. To check this, dig a hole about 5-10 centimetres deep and remove some soil. If it is crumbly or sandy, you probably don't need to lime it. If it is rather tough and loamy and the above symptoms apply, you can spread some lime with a spreader.
In the bed
If you planned well last year and continued to use the harvested beds, you will have sown lamb's lettuce, chicory, radicchio or other Winter Party lettuces by November. Now it's time to harvest. Tip: If you cover the plants with fleece, they can be harvested easily even in the snow. Be careful: you should air the fleece regularly to prevent fungi from colonising underneath.
From the end of January - if the soil is soft enough - the next plants can move into the cold frame: Spinach, cress, radishes or cut lettuce are examples of vegetables that use the first rays of sunshine to thrive. In addition to the cold frame, the raised bed is also suitable for early sowing. It is very easy to provide frost protection with a few wooden poles and some fleece. The same applies here: ventilate regularly to prevent pests from finding an overly humid climate.
Water in January?!
Emergreen plants such as cherry laurel, box or holly have a particular problem in winter when the ground is frozen. They don't freeze to death, they die of thirst! On sunny winter days, they are happy to have enough water.
A ❤️ for animals
Feeding station for birds
Bare winters are hard for many birds, especially since we humans have destroyed or greatly reduced the size of many habitats. The best help for birds is therefore your diverse garden. With a bird feeding station, you can still help your feathered friends through the toughest of times. Please note: birds that do not migrate south in winter are well adapted to the cold season. Biologically speaking, winter feeding is not necessary. However, moderate feeding is permitted and is an opportunity for children in particular to get to know the animal world up close.
You should use untreated wood for the feeding station. It must be covered so that the food stays dry. The feeding place should be narrow so that the birds do not sit directly in the food, defecate in it and thus spread diseases. Cats and martens must not be allowed to reach feeders or nesting boxes, so hang them at a height of at least 2 metres. A feeding station on a pole from which the birds can keep a good eye on the surroundings is also a good option.
Which food for whom?
For feed, mixtures with lots of sunflower seeds are popular with grain eaters. Blackbirds and robins like oat flakes, sultanas or pieces of fruit. Tits, which like to be shooed away from feeders by cheeky blackbirds, are happy with dumplings that only they can skilfully cling to. Cooked or flavoured leftovers and large quantities of bread are not suitable for birds.
Nesting box as a refuge
If you like to plan ahead, start looking for a nesting box now. A little house in a sheltered spot can provide a bird with a place to hide now and save its life on a harsh winter's night
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Inside
Check the climate
In the home, we humans try to create a climate that is as uniform as possible. Many plants like this too. You should give them a break and try not to move them. Cacti are an exception: they prefer to be given a break from growing for several months by placing them in cooler rooms. A conservatory with a temperature of around 10° is ideal for encouraging cacti to flower.
Watering should be more restrained during the winter months than in summer. Thanks to the cooler temperatures, many plants need less water. The dry air during the heating periods, on the other hand, is not good for many plants. They appreciate a regular shower from a spray bottle. Also check regularly in winter to make sure your plants are not infested with pests.
Fresh kitchen herbs
You don't have to go without fresh herbs in winter. Basil, parsley, chives and lemon balm thrive on a light-coloured windowsill in the home. Water sparingly and avoid waterlogging at all costs. A fertiliser stick or a sip of fertiliser every few weeks provides the herbs with everything they need.
What to do in February
Products you can use in January
Winter plant protection + Garden fleece
Quantity discount
CHF10.50 per piece for 2 units
Windhager Winter protection coconut felt mat
Fertiliser
Quantity discount
CHF8.55 per piece for 3 units CHF7.25/1kg
Gesal Universal fertilizers
1.31 kg, 1 l
Aurel Stevens
Chief Editor
aurel.stevens@digitecgalaxus.chI'm the master tamer at the flea circus that is the editorial team, a nine-to-five writer and 24/7 dad. Technology, computers and hi-fi make me tick. On top of that, I’m a rain-or-shine cyclist and generally in a good mood.