Gardening with Eve
Hi everyone - Eve here! If you’re reading this, you might already recognise me from my videos on British Garden Centre’s social media. I'm so excited to welcome you to my brand-new Gardening with Eve guide. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a green-fingered natural, each month I’ll be sharing everything I know about gardening. I’ve got so much planned for this year, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
A bit about me...
I fell in love with all things growing during the pandemic, and my passion quickly led me into managing a Flower Farm in South Oxfordshire.
In my time there we opened the largest Pick Your Own Dahlia Farm in the UK, won the Director Generals Award at The Chelsea Flower Show and grew a crazy 14,000 dahlias in one year with a full-time team of just me and my boss!
I always tell people that gardening is the BEST addiction that you can have.
It’s an incredible, versatile, creative outlet that not only benefits your personal, mental, and physical health, but is a fantastic way to connect with the community and have a positive impact on the environment.
Gardening has a healing power that brings joy to my soul.
I want to help you grow!
I want 2025 to be your best ever year in the garden.
At the start of each month, I’ll be writing a new ‘Gardening with Eve’ guide, bursting with seasonal jobs, handy tips, and exciting projects to get stuck into over the next 4 weeks.
Alongside this, I’ll be digging deeper into certain areas with fun, informative videos (like this one about making your own terrarium).
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into the very first edition of ‘Gardening with Eve’!
This month’s theme is ‘Finding Joy in January’.
Joyful January
January can be a bit of a slog, especially for us gardeners!
But even when the weather’s not great, there’s always joy to be found in the garden.
Whether it’s the satisfaction of planting a new hedge or cheering yourself up with some winter flowers, keep reading to find out how to bring a smile to your face this January.
More of a visual learner? Check out my January Gardening Jobs video below where you can watch me do everything step-by-step and follow along.
Bareroot hedging
Want to establish a beautiful hedge on a budget?
Bare Root hedging is your answer!
The middle of winter is the ideal time to plant bare root hedging as the plants are in a state of dormancy. This means they're much more resilient to the shock of transport and re-planting.
With a selection of classic British varieties available, our bare root hedging bundles are the perfect way to establish a new hedge or bush.
Plus: the more you order, the more you save!
First things first, as soon as you receive your bare root hedging bundle, you'll want to pop it in a bucket of water for at least an hour to rehydrate.
Meanwhile, dig a trench for planting, ensuring it's the same depth as the roots.
Once your bare root hedging has finished soaking, it's a good idea to give their roots a little trim to help stimulate new growth.
Then, simply plant each bare root plant roughly 45cm apart, fill in the soil, and water well!
Still feeling a bit lost? Click here to watch me plant my own bare root hedging!
Pick up some winter colour
With bare trees and empty beds, our gardens can feel a little drab in January.
But it doesn’t have to be this way!
If you’re looking for a quick way to bring some life to a lacklustre bed or planter, you can’t go wrong with Hellebores.
With their lovely, pastel pink and purple blooms, Hellebores are the jewels in the crown of a winter garden.
They’re low maintenance, ready to plant all year round, and flower throughout winter.
Why not pop into your local British Garden Centre and pick up a few plants today for a welcome splash of colour?
Winter Deadheading
If you’re lucky enough to already have some winter flowers – whether they’re Hellebores, Pansies or Cyclamen – now’s a great time to give them a quick deadhead.
All you need to do is check each flower and trim off any that are dead, diseased or wilting.
Not only does this help prevent the spread of disease and encourage new growth, it makes it much easier to see and admire their healthy flowers!
Like with any job, deadheading is so much easier when you've got the right tools.
I'm a big fan of Kent & Stowe's range of secateurs - they're comfy, sharp and come with a 5-year guarantee.
Prepare for the year ahead
With January being one of the quieter months in the garden, it's a great time to take stock and get ready for the hustle and bustle of spring.
Here are my Top-3-Tidy-up-Tips for January:
Tidy your shed
It sounds boring, but it's actually quite satisfying.
After giving your shed or garage a good tidy up and clear out, it’s a good idea to take a quick inventory.
Low on compost? Run out of nursery pots?
Pop into your local British Garden Centre or shop online to stock up on your gardening essentials.
Clean tools
Following on from tidying your shed, now’s a great time to take out and inspect all your tools.
If your secateur blades are coated with sap, a wire wool brush and a squirt of WD-40 works wonders. It’s also worth adding a drop of oil to the pivot if it’s a little rusted up.
Found something beyond repair? Treat yourself to something from our range of premium gardening tools.
Rake up leaves
Raking up leaves and moss from your lawn doesn’t just make it look nicer, it helps it grow stronger, healthier and greener once the weather warms up.
If you've had snow recently, it's also a good idea to aerate your lawn to allow it to bounce back faster and stronger.
Thanks for reading.
