A fresh start to 2018 in the January garden

January. I've done the "peruse seed catalogues and be tempted to buy more than you possibly need" already.  My secateurs are sharp.  What now ?

First job for the weekend - shredding the Christmas tree. Mine, and any I an cadge from the neighbours for composting.  And the wreath can go in too; maybe a bit of winter pruning of apples whilst the machine is out.

Second job, tidy the shed.  I have intercepted a free standing shelf unit on its way to the skip at work, which should store my propagators in better order than the current heap.

Next - rebuilding the big propagating frame.  I had pest problems (caterpillars) in the greenhouse last summer so cleared everything out.  I'll rebuild the sand tray; I've collected some sheets of an expanded polythene material which can form an insulating layer on the floor, and have a few bags of plastering sand left over to go on top with the heating cable in it.  I'm thinking to sow some micro-herbs this year, watching a programme on TV last night they found broccoli sprouts to be pretty healthy eating.  I can use the black plastic trays that vegetables come in (that I now know aren't actually recycled despite being collected in the recycling bins) and various slightly old seed - it will serve as a germination test too !

My winter jobs are more to do with closing the garden down for a spell as I don't know when I will be able to get out there and look after it this year. So I'm covering raised beds with compost then a layer of plastic (which then blows off in the winter storms - so I'll be out there tomorrow problem solving...!) Also just trying to leave things neat and tidy, as much as it's possible to do: cutting back the wild area around the pond, getting stuff into the compost bins, pruning the apples.

I've been busying myself in the garden today.  I've cleaned out the greenhouse and cleaned the glass ready for a fresh start. Feeling the excitement start to come back  

I've also collected another Christmas tree from a neighbour for logs and compost.  The heap is full now !

It was so lovely to have some mild weather - I was in the garden too, just trying to tidy out the greenhouse, but I suddenly noticed that one of the apple trees was growing right over the fence into the neighbour's garden. I did some radical pruning (we have asked the neighbours to help themselves to the fruit but it always seems to stay on the tree, so it seemed a good idea to cut it back). There's a lot more I want to do in the garden, in the tidying-up line, so I hope it's mild again tomorrow afternoon!!