Even though January feels like it’s the dead of winter, don’t forget to start planning for your garden. Take advantage of sunny days to check on your garden’s winter protection and make sure everything is still in working order. Also, be sure to feed the birds and leave some areas of your outside space a little wild to give wildlife a place to hide.
January gardening jobs for your ‘to do’ list
- Now is the time to prune fruit trees and deciduous trees ready for Spring. Take off any dead branches and thin down the branches on the lower parts of the trees which will block sunlight.
- You should also prune shrubs but don’t prune spring flowering plants because you may be removing the forthcoming flowers.
- Time is running out for those Spring bulbs. If you haven’t planted any daffodils or tulips yet, make that your priority.
- Plan ahead for the following winter by planting winter flowering plants this January so they will have plenty of time to establish strong roots before the end of the year. Winter honeysuckle, winter jasmine and paperwhite narcissus will add a flash of colour to your garden at the end of the year.
- If you are thinking of introducing new hedgerows, trees or bare-rooted shrubs to your garden now is the ideal time to do so. You will also find the plants are cheaper at this time of year.
- The same goes for patio and decking. If you intend to have a patio fitted get it done sooner rather than later. It will be much cheaper and you will be able to enjoy the first rays of spring sunshine in true alfresco style.
- Stop your pond freezing over by placing an old plastic bottle on the surface to protect the wildlife that relies on it.
- Houseplants sitting on windowsills need a bit more protection. Wrap a piece if newspaper around the pots to provide that extra bit of insulation.
- Sprinkle pot ash from the fire on your garden but keep it to a minimum because it increases the pH of the soil.
January jobs for your vegetable garden
January is a great time to start planting broad beans in pots, especially if you live in a milder area. You can put them in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. If you have a greenhouse, you can also start planting veggies like aubergines, summer cabbages, cauliflower, and early crops of lettuce, spinach, salad onions and turnips.
Vegetable beds
- Clear and burn any rubbish which will not compost
- Plan Rotation
- Order seeds
- If seed potatoes arrive, lay out to chit
- Open onion/shallot sets and lay out to stop rot and/or sprouting
Fruit
- Mulch of compost on rhubarb crowns
- Plant bushes and canes as soon as you get them
What’s in season?
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage – Savoy
- Kale
- Leek
- Parsnip
- Salsify and Scorzonera
If you found this content useful, you’ll find more seasonal gardening advice on our Gardening channel.
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