Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-South-Border-in-South-Courtyard-Copyright-National-Trust-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2864" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-South-Border-in-South-Courtyard-Copyright-National-Trust-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-South-Border-in-South-Courtyard-Copyright-National-Trust-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-South-Border-in-South-Courtyard-Copyright-National-Trust-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-South-Border-in-South-Courtyard-Copyright-National-Trust-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>The south border at Hardwick Hall / National Trust</figcaption></figure>



<p>It may be drab Jan, but the historic garden at <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/hardwick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hardwick Hall</a> bursts with colour whatever matter the season. The Derbyshire garden that surrounds the Elizabethan Hall includes a herb garden, Yew-lined lawns and orchards. But it&#8217;s the mixed borders, carefully tended to by Head Gardener Ian Hunt, which are truly spectacular come spring and summer.</p>



<p>Want a bit of that magic for your your own borders? We got Ian to spill his green-fingered secrets on what we should be doing now for a beautiful garden when things warm up. Secateurs at the ready? Here are Ian&#8217;s top tips.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boost-your-lawn">Boost your lawn</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-Yew-Alley-looking-towards-hall-Copyright-National-Trust-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2863" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-Yew-Alley-looking-towards-hall-Copyright-National-Trust-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-Yew-Alley-looking-towards-hall-Copyright-National-Trust-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-Yew-Alley-looking-towards-hall-Copyright-National-Trust-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-Yew-Alley-looking-towards-hall-Copyright-National-Trust-350x525.jpg 350w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Hardwick-Hall-Yew-Alley-looking-towards-hall-Copyright-National-Trust.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption>The lawn along Yew Tree Alley at Hardwick Hall / National Trust</figcaption></figure>



<p>January is a great time to start work on improving your lawn. Re-turfing or seeding any worn patches, removing weeds (try not to use chemicals) and aerating it to promote root growth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-pruning-especially-roses">Get pruning (especially roses)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/rose-by-Emma-Leigh.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2868" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/rose-by-Emma-Leigh.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/rose-by-Emma-Leigh-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/rose-by-Emma-Leigh-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/rose-by-Emma-Leigh-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Image / Emma Leigh</figcaption></figure>



<p>Pruning, especially roses, apples, and pears. Best way to find out what type of rose you have is either from a book or ask a friendly gardener. The RHS has great guides to pruning roses. With apples and pears remove any dead or broken wood, prune the tree to a nice open bowl shape and prune back the extension growth to two or three buds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weedle-out-weeds-early">Weedle out weeds early</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/North-facing-border-West-Court-Hardwick-Hall-Copyright-National-Trust-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2867" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/North-facing-border-West-Court-Hardwick-Hall-Copyright-National-Trust-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/North-facing-border-West-Court-Hardwick-Hall-Copyright-National-Trust-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/North-facing-border-West-Court-Hardwick-Hall-Copyright-National-Trust-2-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/North-facing-border-West-Court-Hardwick-Hall-Copyright-National-Trust-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>The North border at Hardwick Hall / National Trust</figcaption></figure>



<p>Keep on top of the weeding. Do little bit every week so you aren’t left with lots to do when the weather warms up and everything starts growing again.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sow-seeds">Sow seeds</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Sow-seeds.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2865" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Sow-seeds.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Sow-seeds-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Sow-seeds-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Sow-seeds-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Early spring is a great time to grow this year’s annuals from seed. All you need is some compost, pots or trays, labels and something to cover the pots or trays over. Seeds will germinate nicely on a sunny window sill or greenhouse at this time of year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cut-back-perennials">Cut back perennials</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2866" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/01/Honesty-by-Diane-Helentjar-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Image / Dianne Helentjar</figcaption></figure>



<p>Cut back hardy perennials now. Remove any dead growth from your hardy perennials and they will burst into growth when the weather warms up.</p>


Gloves on! 5 gardening jobs for January

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