Let winter gardening love grow on all of the family!
The UK is in the midst of latest strict lockdowns, families learning together to adjust to the challenges of this cold season.
They are finding ways to pass the time productively with one hobby that has seen a significant jump in popularity being old favourite gardening.
There’s no question that the pandemic has changed the gardening landscape.
A few months after the closure of pubs and restaurants, gardening specialists saw a spike in purchases.
According to research conducted by the Horticultural Trades Association, almost three million gardeners sprung up as a result of lockdown.
Some temporary food shortage fears increased people’s interest in growing their own.
With the leisure industry in lockdown and the future of our economy in question, as a nation, we found solace in the joy of gardening.
“It’s true, gardening is one of the most reliable and rewarding activities families can enjoy together during the winter lockdown.
“We’ve seen an increased interest in gardening across all ages,” said Shannen Godwin from J Parker’s, the UK’s leading online retailer of garden plants.
For those interested in discovering safe outdoor activities, here are gardening tips for the whole family ...
1 Shrubs and Trees
Planting is an amazing activity to do with kids. Not only will they be entertained, but it’s also a perfect teaching tool.
Interestingly, the very best time of year to plant shrubs and trees is between early autumn to late spring, so why not get out in the garden this winter and plant some shrubs?
Daphne, Euphorbia and holly shrubs will create instant container displays, plus they’re easy to plant and will quickly fill the space allocated to them. Why not get your children to make plant labels to mark where the new shrubs have been planted?
2 Lighten Up
A quick blast on Google
will highlight any number of inexpensive solar-powered indoor and outdoor lights. You can even spice things up by making it a competition and awarding prizes for the best and most inventive lighting designs that will beat the cold weather blues.
3 Feed the Birds
Winter is a tough time for wildlife and not just birds. You can make it a lot easier on the little guys in your garden by laying on a spread of nuts, fruit, and berries. Don’t forget to provide some freshwater.
4 Frost Prevention
It’s a good idea to make your garden winter safe and it can also be a fun family adventure. Why not turn the exercise into a little winter safari? You can start by gritting any pathways and sweeping or adding matts to prevent slippery ice from forming. Make sure to point out any tracks or signs of life
to your children. If you have water features, make sure you insulate any pipes and if you have any aquatic life, a few floating tennis balls can be a lifesaver for your fish.
You can always get the kids to count the fish first too. It’s a good idea to make a checklist of everything you can think of and then get the kids to tick them off one by one from checking the heaters in the greenhouse to making sure you’ve left out some cover for any cold little critters.
5 Plant that Vegetable Garden
Now is the perfect time to start a veg patch. The kids can handle the rhubarb; one of the easiest crops to grow, therefore perfect for beginners. You can plant rhubarb in pots at any time of year, just keep your eye on them if the temperature drops as you may need to cover them with some plastic domes.