David Domoney Newsletter

February: Flower power

Hi,

We’re already in the second month of the year, which means we’re taking a step toward spring, so fill your garden with flowering plants for this month with these top ten picks for February.

I’m sharing regular updates on the development of the new grow your own garden at my home over on Instagram. So far I’ve shared my plans, the initial groundworks and the reinstallation of my greenhouse, so head over to my account – I’d love to hear what you think.

If you’re looking to grow more fruit and veg this year, try planning your garden around recipes to ensure you’ve got stock of the right ingredients. Once the planning is done, set it into motion with my guide of seeds to sow in February.

Give a Valentine’s Day gift with a difference by checking out these best rose alternatives, or choose something that will stick around by giving a houseplant to your loved one.

There’s plenty to look forward to, like spring bulbs bursting to life in the garden and an increase in pollinators paying your garden a visit. Next month I’m also looking forward to the Ideal Home Show, so don’t miss out on buying tickets to catch me at one of my talks.

In the meantime, you can catch me on Love Your Weekend on Sunday mornings from 10am on ITV.

Happy gardening and a Happy New Year!

David

Gardening tip of the month

Keep your garden in ship-shape by pruning, dividing and cutting back specific plants to keep them looking their best…

Divide herbaceous perennials like salvias, delphiniums, eryngiums, verbena and asters as a way to increase your stock, keep them flowering well, growing densely and growing healthily.

Through winter, some deciduous ornamental grasses may have been left for winter interest and texture, but these can be cut back now to encourage new growth in spring.

Shape up summer flowering shrubs that flower on the current season’s growth like buddleia and perovskia by cutting them back now, ready for new sprouts in spring.

Carry on deadheading spent blooms of bedding plants and winter flowers so energy is redirected into boosting more flower growth. Pinch off flowers with a finger and thumb or use clean secateurs.

Top plants

It may be cold outside but take heart as spring is just around the corner. Here are some top plants waking up from winter dormancy and putting on a show.

Up for grabs…

Be in with a chance to win 1 of 10 bottles of Miracle Gro® Rose & Shrub Plant Food, for greener leaves and twice as many blooms.

Top job

Chitting involves encouraging seed potatoes to start growing before they’re planted outside, so get prepared by reading my guide on how to do it here.

Plants for purpose

There’s been a renewed passion for dried flower arranging and bringing the beauty of cut flowers and foliage indoors for striking displays, here are some top seeds to sow.

Garden gadgets

Be in with a chance of winning an Oase FiltoClear 13000 set, that will keep your pond water healthy, clean and clear.

A Year of Gardening

The start of the new year is a fantastic time to consider what changes you’d like to make in your garden, whether you want a full transformation or small but subtle ones.

Fun seeds

Be in with a chance of winning 1 of 3 sets of Mr Fothergill’s FUN seeds to help engage children in the garden.

Climb the walls

Transform an unused feature in your garden into a living wall full of flowers and foliage with these climbers as there is one to suit every garden style and size.

Gadget giveaway

Be in with a chance of winning a Yard Force AquaJet which is a handy portable pressure cleaner with adjustable pressure to suit the task at hand.

My Houseplant Changed My Life

You can order your copy of my book here.

My Houseplant Changed My Life is OUT NOW!

Prize draw winners

AquaActiv BioKick Care 250ml Courtesy of OASE:
Leon Daniels
Andy Canning
Toni Davis
Ella Anderson
Peter Beard
Patricia Avery

ECO-King Compost Bin:
Web – Kath Bugg
Twitter – Kelly Dawe
Facebook – James Bruce
Instagram – Francesca

Yard Force – David Domoney Seeds and Miracle-Gro Lawn Feed:
Kellie Homan

Miracle-Gro Pump & Feed:
Nageena Ahmed
Ian Ferguson
James Healy
Elliot Bridgewater
Mike Smith
Richard Collins
Chris Williams
Lyn Gillespie
Helena Haddock
Ellen Cameron

Congratulations! Look out for even more prize draws throughout the month…