Get your flower fix: Top 10 ways to survive lockdown for gardeners
1. Plan a new planting scheme. Identify your dreariest garden corner and think of five plants you could plant there to brighten it up come springtime. Order them online for best choice of cultivars and speedy home delivery
2. Reach out to other gardeners. Make contact with fellow gardeners via social media – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are best. Follow the Garden Answers page on Facebook for chat with likeminded readers
3. Grow something from seed. Microgreens can be grown on a warm, sunny windowsill – it’s such a positive thing to see their tiny green shoots emerge, right in the depths of winter - and you can eat them too!
4. Buy a pot of snowdrops. They’re on sale now at the garden centre, just waiting to burst into bloom. It’s a wonderful sign that spring is on its way (soon-ish)
5. Take time to enjoy the little things. Study a flower pattern or leaf for a few minutes – maybe try to sketch it so you can marvel at the intricate details that abound in nature
6. Visit gardens virtually. The National Gardens Scheme website (www.ngs.org.uk) has an archive of gorgeous open gardens videoed by their owners last summer, but don’t forget to donate to the vital nursing charities they support
7. Book an exercise visit. Some of the larger RHS and National Trust properties are open to local people for exercise visits. You may have to book a timeslot but it’s really easy and free to members
8. Feed the birds. Put out some suet cake or fat balls for your garden bird population. Join in the RSPB bird count on the last weekend of January, or do your own informal count to see how many sparrows, blue tits and starlings come to visit your feeders
9. Post a photo or video. Share your garden in pictures by uploading your pics and videos on our Facebook page. We love to see them and your pic could win a prize, or be featured in next month’s magazine
10. Win something lovely! We’ve got lots of goodies to win each month when you sign up for our newsletter. See current competition info here