The Gay UK December 2015 | Page 118

THE PLOT As well as all the Christmas fun in December, the festive period can also bring its own unique set of stresses and strains. Financial woes and trying to please all your friends and relatives (especially if you’re in a couple) can become exhausting and play on your mind throughout the holidays. Gardening is one of the best stress busters there is. Fresh air, sunlight and taking time away from the things that are bothering you, will inevitably make you feel better. Many mental health organisations use gardening as a tool when promoting happiness and wellbeing. We’ve recently opened a shop and have placed our entire future in the business. This has created a new level of stress for us that we’ve never experienced before. It’s taken a while to figure out how to manage the pressure but there’s nothing better than getting outside on our rare days off. We’re writing this having just come in from a day outside planting winter veg and salads and planting bulbs for early spring colour. Just getting out and focusing on enjoying the garden has given us a real sense of calm and has allowed us some time to un-jumble our brains. So during the Christmas madness try to make some time to get outside. There’s not a lot to do at this time of year so take your time and get prepared for the coming spring. Service all your gadgets and electrical tools. This can be done in the comfort of the shed or on the kitchen table! Protect all of your containers and pots, as they can be vulnerable at this time of year. Raise up out of puddles, wrap to keep off frost or if they are particularly delicate bring inside or under shelter – but don’t forget to water once they’re out of the rain. Now’s the time to prune your apple and pear trees. Pruning is easier with less leaves on the tree. Your aim is to reduce branch congestion in order to promote a better crop next year. If in doubt about pruning there are lots of handy video guides online. 118 THEGAYUK | ISSUE 17 | DEC 2015 © AndyAndAdams December in the garden.