Greener facts
In 1991-2020, rainfall increased by 12% (winter) and 7% (summer) compared to 1961-1990
In 2020, trees carried leaves for 6.2 days longer, on average, than during 1999-2019
1 Just grow
Raising plants, and more of them, is a key weapon in the fight against climate change. Plants absorb CO2, remove pollutants from the air and hold water in the soil, helping to prevent further climate change, improve air quality and prevent flooding. Trees are key but so too are the layers of shrubs and perennials underneath. And don’t forget your pond – a well-planted pond stores more CO2 than an equivalent area of trees. Why not start sowing seeds indoors now – see GardenersWorld.com/sow-indoors
2 Farm at home
Make food miles a thing of the past by growing your own veg and enjoying seasonal eating. Start with easy crops like salad leaves, fast-growing herbs, courgettes and climbing beans. If you have a greenhouse or sheltered patio, try tomatoes and peppers. You won’t be totally self-sufficient, but it all adds up! Start off chillies now on a warm windowsill. And if you love cut flowers at home, grow your own – imported flowers come with eye-watering air miles, so learn to love your local blooms. For our beginners’ veg-growing advice, see GardenersWorld.com/easy-veg
3 Turn grey to green
This story is from the January 2022 edition of Gardeners World.
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This story is from the January 2022 edition of Gardeners World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Travel Ideas For Garden Lovers
Looking for green-fingered holiday inspiration? The GW team share recent destinations for garden getaways
Your wildlife month
December is a time for reflection in the garden. What worked for wildlife in 2023 and what didn't? How could you do more? Looking at the bones of the garden now, is there space for more plants? Are your fences bare? Are there enough berries and hips? You have until March to plant bare-root trees and shrubs. What would look good? What would better serve wildlife?
The Full Monty
I can, and occasionally do, manufacture jobs in a kind of gung-ho, boy-scout spirit
Expert's choice
Smaller variegated ivies still pack a big punch all year round, says Graham Rice
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
Frances Tophill explains what to cut back now, including grapevines and hardy shrubs
Hardwood cuttings
It's the zero-fuss way to make free new shrubs - just follow our guide from Nick Bailey
Hassle-free harvests
While veg-plot activities slow down in winter, there is still plenty to do, from planting fruit trees, and harvesting sprouts and salads to taking stock of your growing year so you can plan next year's crops, says Jack Wallington
The happy house plant guide
In the first of a seven-part series, Jane Perrone shares expert advice on how to give your house plants the best start to a long and healthy life in your home
The science of soil
Healthy soil is teeming with life - Becky Searle delves below the surface to explore how this fascinating system works and how it can benefit our plants
'It's like another lung - like having oxygen on tap. It makes you breathe in a different way'
Helen Maxwell's garden in rural Carmarthenshire surrounds the house that her husband (who's an architect) designed.