Jobs for the Month - January

Christmas is behind us, but we have spring to look forward to! It might be cold outside, but the importance of January gardening should not be underestimated.

 

What to order:

· Hardy Perennials

· Shrubs

· Prepared indoor bulbs (Amaryllis)

 

What to Plant:

· Bare-root trees

· Bare-root Roses

· Pre-order Summer-flowering bulbs

 

What to Prune:

Although not all fruit trees should be pruned this early, you can now begin to prune back your apple and pear trees. You can also prune climbers away from window frames, doors, and gutters. It might be cold outside, but a few minutes spent doing this now will be worthwhile, as when the climber comes into leaf this can be a difficult task. Resist pruning those roses again until the frosts are behind us!

 

Maintenance:

January can offer some difficult weather conditions for plants in your garden. Frosts, gale-force winds, and heavy rain can threaten your hard work. Consider sheltering plants or moving some to sunnier positions to maximise light. You should also secure structures in your garden - this includes tying climbing plants and staking young trees before the wind damages them. Patio container plants can be adversely affected by wet weather. So now is a perfect time to raise those pots/containers up off the ground on feet or bricks to improve drainage and to prevent waterlogging.

 

Tips:

· You can now begin to clear away dead foliage from perennials to make beds look tidy and get them ready for spring.

· Flowerbed soils should be turned, giving you a great opportunity to mix in manure or compost in preparation for spring planting.

· A perfect way to prevent your water feature from completely freezing over is to float several old tennis balls on the surface.

· Attract wildlife to your garden by adding a bird feeder or scattering monkey nuts on the lawn.

· If you opted for a traditional tree, the environmentally friendly way of disposing of it would be to recycle it into mulch and use it in your garden.

· Prevent more damage to branches of shrubs or hedges simply by brushing snow away regularly with a broom.