January gardening guide
The month of January is all about laying strong foundations for a flourishing garden in the weeks and months to come. Top gardening tasks for this month include protecting your garden from frost, checking supports for damage and moving plants to sunnier spots. Birds also need a little extra help in January so don't forget to keep feeders topped up too.
Checklist
- Plan which seeds you want to sow for the season
- Finish winter digging if the ground is workable
- Protect plants by mulching with organic material
- Winter prune fruit trees
- Aerate your lawn to aid drainage
- Plant out rhubarb
- Plant new hedges
- Sow Onion seed as soon as possible
- Harvest winter vegetables
- Start “chitting” seed potatoes
Planning
Plan ahead for spring planting of summer-flowering bulbs, bedding and herbaceous perennials.
Plan your vegetable plot for the year to reap the rewards of good crop rotation. Have fun looking through the seed racks in centre.
Think about plants for your hanging baskets such as Fuchsias and Geraniums. Young plants can be started on your windowsill.
Planting
Plant lily bulbs in pots and in borders during milder weather.
Plant Amaryllis bulbs in pots and place on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse.
Continue planting bare root deciduous hedging plants and trees.
Plant roses – but not where roses have grown before, unless you add Mycorrhizal funghi.
Start sprouting seed potatoes by placing them into trays placed in a cool, bright and frost-free place.
Help your seeds germinate by using an electric propagator.
Maintenance
Rake up any winter debris and leaves off your borders to keep them tidy, stop fungal spores and prevent slugs or insects from over-wintering.
Keep alpine beds free of fallen leaves to avoid smothering.
Clear paths of moss and lichen.
Clean and insulate your greenhouse.
Keep tubs and containers tidy, cutting back and removing debris regularly.
Raise patio containers onto feet or bricks.
Take tender plants inside or into the greenhouse.
Top up bird baths with fresh water every day, remembering to melt ice on frosty days.
Top tips
Protect terracotta pots by raising them up onto ‘pot feet’. This also helps the soil to drain better in very wet weather.
Pruning
Tidy up trees and shrubs, cutting out any dead, diseased or damaged wood.
Prune established freestanding apple and pear trees.
Prune gooseberries and redcurrants, cutting side shoots back to three buds from their base.
In milder weather, lift and divide herbaceous perennials.
Take some root cuttings now from Papaver, Verbascum, Acanthus and Phlox.
Wildlife and pests
Let the birds do the hard work for you by hanging fat balls and regularly topping up feeders.
New sweet peas will need protecting from aphids.
Prevent slugs and snails establishing themselves in wintery debris.
Protect young fruit trees from rabbits and Muntjac deer with plastic tree guards or netting.
Harvesting
Leeks, Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips and winter cabbages all need harvesting in January.
