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<p>It’s time to start <strong>cleaning up your garden tools</strong> so they are just like brand new to start off the new year of gardening again. It is important to keep your tools and other garden accessories clean to ensure they don’t spread any pests or diseases in your garden. It is easy to do and can even fill some time up over the winter months until the weather warms up and it’s time to sow more seeds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It’s time to start <strong>cleaning up your garden tools</strong> so they are just like brand new to start off the new year of gardening again. It is important to keep your tools and other garden accessories clean to ensure they don’t spread any pests or diseases in your garden. It is easy to do and can even fill some time up over the winter months until the weather warms up and it’s time to sow more seeds.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Seed trays should be included when cleaning up your garden tools&nbsp;</h2>
<p>When you gather all of your gardening tools ready to clean them, don’t forget any unused pots and empty seed trays. Everything can be cleaned up ready to go for spring. Grab a bucket or bowl, or even the kitchen sink and soak the trays in warm soapy water. Make sure they are well-scrubbed and dry them off ready to store and sow seeds in when you are ready.</p>
<h2>When cleaning up your garden tools don’t forget hand tools&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Hand tools are some of the most used of all of the gardening tools so they should be top of the list for cleaning. Any time of the year is good for brushing off dirt and storing well but at least once a year a good wash and clean up helps to prevent the spread of disease and pests. When you clean your tools, make sure you check out they are in good working order and do any repairs if needed.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Cleaning up your garden tools such as forks, spades and hoes</h2>
<p>All of your bigger gardening tools also need to be kept in good condition so keeping them clean means they will be in good condition for many years to come. Soaking them in soapy water is the easiest and quickest way to give them a clean but if you have worked with them around any diseased plants make sure you clean them straightaway before using them around another plant.</p>
<h2>Plant labels included when cleaning up your garden tools</h2>
<p>Another gardeners accessory that is used frequently in and around the garden is the plant label. Labels are constantly used in soil and around plants, often switched from one plant to another and they will need to be cleaned as well. Wipe off any plant names if you can soak them in soapy water and scrub.</p>
<p>Allow everything to dry off before you store them again which will help to ensure there is no rust development. Your tools can last very many years with good care and repairs on an annual basis at least.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you do need some new tools, we have many in store for you to choose from.&nbsp;</p>

Cleaning up your garden tools

<p>This month, as part of <strong>Veganuary</strong>, many of us are trying to adopt a more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. To help, we’ve put together a few tips on being more vegan in the way we garden.</p>

<p>This month, as part of <strong>Veganuary</strong>, many of us are trying to adopt a more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. To help, we’ve put together a few tips on being more vegan in the way we garden.</p>
<h2>What is Veganuary?</h2>
<p>Veganuary&nbsp;is the world's largest vegan movement, inspiring people to try vegan for January and throughout the rest of the year. Try a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle this month and help mother earth. Eating vegetarian or vegan isn't too difficult. Read our tips to start this year healthy. Can you hold on to your New Year's resolutions?</p>
<h2>Tips for vegan gardening</h2>
<p>Vegan gardening is about growing plants without the use of animal products and chemicals. It involves learning to live with garden pests like slugs and insects rather than reaching for the pesticide bottle and making choices that are good for the environment as a whole and our gardens. Becoming a vegan gardener doesn’t happen overnight, but here are a few ways to start.</p>
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<p><strong>Let a part of your garden go a bit wild</strong>, and you’ll reap the benefits of the wildlife that will soon arrive.&nbsp; Long grass provides a habitat for insects, shady, damp log piles encourage frogs, and hedges bring in birds and even hedgehogs, which all do their bit to keep pests like slugs and aphids under control.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>Grow some of your own food</strong>. Having a vegetable patch helps, but it’s surprising how many plants can be grown in small spaces. Beans, peas, tomatoes and even dwarf fruit trees can be grown in pots, and salad leaves will thrive on a sunny windowsill, as will many herbs. The best thing about growing your own food is that you really know exactly what’s gone into it.</p>
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<p><strong>Make your own compost</strong>. Get a compost bin or use pallets to build your own, and add your garden cuttings and vegetable scraps – obviously no dairy or meat products, though. Add some torn-up cardboard to aerate your compost and give it the right balance of carbon and nitrogen.</p>
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<p><strong>Learn to live with garden pests</strong>. Plant young seedlings out later so they’re less attractive to slugs and protect them with copper tape.&nbsp; Invest in nets or barriers to protect plants from cabbage white butterflies, carrot flies and hungry birds. And consider planting more than you need, so you can afford to lose a few plants.</p>
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<p><strong>Don’t use animal manure for fertilizer</strong>. Instead, feed your soil by sowing green manure crops like clover and digging the plants back into the soil to break down. Practice crop rotation to avoid depleting soils, and mulch with your own compost, if you have enough.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>To <strong>make your own high-potassium liquid plant food</strong>, fill a bucket with chopped up comfrey leaves, top it up with water, put a lid on and leave it for 2-4 weeks (best to put it far away from the house - it smells!) Strain out the leaves, dilute the black liquid from 1 part comfrey tea to 10 parts water, and feed tomatoes and other fruiting plants.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Whether you’re new to gardening or an old hand, you’ll find everything you need in our centres, so visit us and get your gardening year off to a great start.</p>

Get into Veganuary: Vegan gardening tips

<p>Know <strong>how to get through this Blue Monday</strong> to make sure that you thrive forward into the year without feeling low on the saddest day of the year. The third Monday of January every year is named Blue Monday because it is at the point of the month where the festivities have ended, it’s cold outside and new years resolutions have been broken. But, by doing one or all of the below activities, you can get through the day without feeling blue.</p>

<p>Know <strong>how to get through this Blue Monday</strong> to make sure that you thrive forward into the year without feeling low on the saddest day of the year. The third Monday of January every year is named Blue Monday because it is at the point of the month where the festivities have ended, it’s cold outside and new years resolutions have been broken. But, by doing one or all of the below activities, you can get through the day without feeling blue.</p>
<h2>Forest bathe to get through this Blue Monday&nbsp;</h2>
<p>No matter what the weather is like, wrap up warm and put your wellies on to go for a walk. Make sure you wander amongst the trees, absorbing the oils omitted and the fresh air all around. Don’t forget to look up at the canopy and appreciate the magnificence of trees. As your forest bathe, you should feel your stress levels lower, anxiety decrease, and ready to enjoy the day.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Get through this Blue Monday and sow some seeds</h2>
<p>Growing flowers and cultivating your own food brings not only a great deal of joy but also so much hope. When times can be tough, sowing seeds gives you something to look after, be responsible for and have hope for the future as you nurture and watch your seeds grow. Why not try sowing some microgreens for a quick and satisfying turnaround. You’ll have nutritious plants on your plate in as little as ten days to three weeks.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Be creative and get through this Blue Monday&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Have you wanted to get your hands on a creative project? Why not start today. Try colouring books or sketching. Try out different pencils, colours, glitter and paper. Why not let your inner artist out and get everything down on paper. Spend some time just doing that craft project you’ve meant to try for ages.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Get through this Blue Monday and treat yourself&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Now the Christmas tree is down, why not fill your room with plants. Houseplants bring so much joy, from the responsibility of looking after something, to the aesthetically pleasing aspect and the toxins cleaned from the air, they give so much. So why not treat yourself to a new houseplant of your dreams? That glossy leaf Monstera, the large Orchid you’ve been looking at or the tiny succulents for an indoor planter. Plants bring so much joy!</p>
<h2>Be proud of your yourself to get through this Blue Monday&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Remember that new years resolutions get broken and don’t be hard on yourself about it. Be proud of all that you have achieved and all that you will achieve in the future. Don’t be hard on yourself; give yourself a big well done!</p>
<p>Treat yourself to a new plant in store, or just come and take a look around to help you get through the day.&nbsp;</p>

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