Growing Together
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January might seem quiet in the garden, but it is a perfect time to prepare for the year ahead. After the excitement of Christmas, those crisp winter days offer a chance to enjoy some fresh air and get organised. The ground can be cold and wet, so big planting jobs will wait until later, but there is still plenty you can do.
This is the ideal month to tidy borders, plan your planting, and order seeds, bulbs and young plants before the popular varieties sell out. If you have a greenhouse or a bright windowsill indoors, you can start sowing plants that need a long season, such as begonias, lobelia and geraniums.
Even though spring flowers feel a long way off, the work you do now will make a big difference later. Pruning certain shrubs and trees in their dormant stage helps keep them healthy and looking their best. You can also prepare vegetable beds, check stored crops, and give a little extra care to garden wildlife during the colder days.
Vegetable garden checklist
Order seeds early
Harvest winter vegetables
Sow tiny seeds with care
Start chitting seed potatoes
Sow early crops indoors
Force rhubarb
Check stored crops
Flower garden checklist
Plant bare root trees and shrubs
Tidy borders and add mulch
Sow tiny seeds with care
Make use of your Christmas tree
Prune wisteria
Cut back ornamental grasses
Plant lilies in pots
Look after winter colour
January is one of the best times to prune many shrubs and trees because they are dormant and not using much energy. This means they are less likely to suffer from sap loss or disease.
Remove dead or diseased wood
This keeps the plant healthy and prevents problems spreading. Wipe your secateurs after each cut when dealing with diseased stems.
Shape & rejuvenate shrubs
Older shrubs such as cotinus and forsythia can be cut back hard to encourage fresh growth and better flowering in spring.
Prune roses
Do not worry too much about being precise. A general trim to keep them neat and healthy works well. Aim to cut back to an outward-facing bud if you can.
Prune fruit trees
Apple and pear trees benefit from pruning now. Remove dead or crossing branches and aim for an open shape so air can move through the branches in summer.
Ventilate the greenhouse on mild days to prevent mould and diseases.
Remove yellow leaves from plants and dead flowers to keep things tidy and healthy.
Keep watering light and only when needed.
Ventilate the greenhouse on mild days to prevent mould and diseases.
Check taps and pipes are protected from frost.
Brush snow off greenhouses, frames and shrubs to stop damage.
