January jobs for the garden

January has started with a bang, and we are not talking about the new year fireworks! Winter has shown her icy intent already this month with hard frosts and the first snowy blast of the year.

Living up to its reputation as the coldest month of the year, January is a month for doing what we can, when we can in the garden. Take advantage of the crisp mornings by pottering in the greenhouse, or when it has started to warm, check plants, crops and start the winter pruning.

January is a month for new beginnings – the question is ‘What new flowers and crops will you be trying this season?’

Plan ahead for bumper crops

• Key to bumper crops is planning! It’s time to plan your crop rotation for the coming season.
• Take a look at your seed packets and remove any that are showing signs of disease.
• Continue to harvest winter vegetables such as parsnips and leeks.
• Winter is a good time to prune fruit canes whilst dormant.
• Winter prune apple and pear trees but leave pruning of stoned fruit trees such as plums and peaches to the summer.
• Protect fruit trees against overwintering bugs to ensure bumper, bug free crops in summer. The ‘Protect trees in winter for summer success’ blog will provide some handy tips on using Tree Bands and Winter Tree Wash.
• Continue to sow winter salad leaves in pots but do not leave on cold windowsills, ensure they are in a warm, light area.
• Check for weeds amongst winter crops and remove.
• Stored fruit and vegetables are a magnet for mice looking for a free lunch. Check stores and remove any diseased produce. If mice activity is evident, put rodent protection in place.
• Protect potato bags against the frost by moving into the greenhouse or protecting with fleece.
• Towards the end of the month start to chit early potatoes. Take a look at the ‘How to chit early potatoes’ blog for some quick tips.
• Plant bare root fruit trees.
• Start to sow chillies, broad beans, aubergines, onions, shallots etc in trays.

Winter blooms

• Plant bare roots roses and shrubs if the ground is not frozen!
• Take cuttings from box, hedges and climbers. The ‘How to take cuttings’ blog will provide a guide as to when to take cuttings and how to plant.
• In areas of heavy snow, brush the snow from the leaves of plants and hedges to prevent breakage and damage.
• Continue to deadhead winter blooms and remove saggy stems.
• Start sowing hardy annuals in the greenhouse.
• If you haven’t already, plant sweet peas. There are some great handy tips in the ‘Growing the best sweet peas’ blog.
• Visit your local garden centre or nursery and choose from a range of bedding plants to brighten the borders over the colder months.
• Press mistletoe berries into the crevices of apple trees to start growing mistletoe for next year.
• Check overwintering plants for aphids and bugs and remove. Whilst usually used in the spring and summer, apply Organic Plant Guard to keep bugs at bay.
• During mild spells, plant lily bulbs.
• Raise the humidity for houseplants to keep them thriving and remove from cold windowsills.
• Plant amaryllis bulbs.

Winter clean-up!

• Try not to step on lawns during the winter, but remove leaves when needed as they can also damage lawns.
• Keep on top of feeding wildlife by keeping those bird feeders topped up and clean. 
• Check stakes and ties to ensure they are secure.

The new year is finally here which means the new season is on its way! Don’t worry too much if you do not get to do too much gardening in January, the garden can wait until the snow and frosts slow.