The month of resolutions, new starts, and big dreams for the coming year. Peter Brown and Chris Day take time to delve into some of the talked about trends of 2024, plus the usual mix of gardening news, events, and gardening advice for the month ahead.

What’s on

Monday 1st January Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Guided Tour. Romsey, Hampshire.

Thursday 18th January: Rose Pruning Masterclass with Michael Marriott at Borde Hill, Haywards Heath in West Sussex.

Saturday 20th January: National Tulip Day in the centre of Amsterdam, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

Saturday 27th January: Talk ‘Puzzle Pictures’, 2.30-5pm organised by the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust and to be held at Aylesbury Methodist Church and Centre.

26-28th January: RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

27-28th January: Houseplant Weekend at RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Saturday 3rd February: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Graft and Grow Day featuring fruit tree grafting in conjunction with The Mid-Shires Orchard Group. 10am - 4pm.

Looking to get out and about? There’s plenty of great winter gardens around the UK to visit on the Great British Gardens website.

Dig It top 5 selling trees of 2023 Sharing the top slot Malus ‘Aros’ and Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’, joint 2nd place with Malus ‘Red Obelisk’ and Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ and in the third place Acer ‘Brandywine’.

As we start the year, here’s our followers top most popular guest podcasts to date. Top slot is No Dig with Charles Dowding, in the second slot is Cottage Gardening with Rosy Hardy. In third position The Queen of the Herb’s Jekka McVicar followed by Cherry growing with Vikki Grainge and at the 5th slot Composting with Rod Weston.

News

End of the line for peat composts at Evergreen after 22 years.

Arit Anderson, in her new book, highlights a range of garden trees that can stand up for our changing climate.

Scientist calls for new ways to understand plant durability in recent RHS talk.

Low-level offenders will clean up graffiti and plant trees instead of being sent to prison as ministers try to solve major overcrowding crisis in UK.

Global action to save Aussie ‘living dinosaur’ tree.

International conservation charity Plantlife secures £80,000 campaign target to increase lichen research.

UK bans giant rhubarb after study finds popular garden plant is invasive species.

Plant fossils are remains of ancient baby turtles.

The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) reach a membership milestone of over 700 members.

Peach Fuzz is Pantone colour of the year. A velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and heart. Expect to see plenty of peach tones and hues this year!

2024 is the year for Edimentals.

Garden ornament turns out to be live bomb.

Plant mentions: Box, Cyclamen persicum (large florist cyclamen), Broccoli, Purple and white sprouting broccoli, Globe artichoke, Reindeer moss, Mixed Native Hedging, Gunnera maculata, Honeysuckle hedging, Pansies, Swiss Chard, Chinese lanterns, Lettuce ‘Lollo Rossa,’ ornamental grasses, Pea ‘Feltham First’ and ‘Meteor,’ Geraniums (from seed), Liliums, autumn fruiting raspberries, strawberry runners, and seed potatoes.

Product Mentions: Kelkay trends for 2024, terracotta pots, lawn aerator, mower service, Haxnicks Fleece jackets and organic winter wash.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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