January in the Garden

Posted by Shannen Godwin on 17th Jun 2021

January in the Garden

January may seem a little dull and grey in the garden, but in reality it is an exciting time for fresh starts, looking ahead, and planning a beautiful garden for the twelve months ahead. Jobs in the garden this month are mostly about keeping things trim and tidy in preparation for the year to come.

Christmas Trees

By now Christmas decorations are packed away and trees taken down. However, if your tree has been dumped in the garden for the past week or so, why not recycle it. Christmas trees can be shredded into mulch to help keep moisture in during winter and protect tender plants from frost damage.

Cut Backs

January calls for clean sweeps and clearing collapsed herbaceous plants is a must-task. Leave most stems on your plants to provide a home for insects but chop out the bent stems and pile them in a corner so the bugs can snooze until spring.

In the Flower Garden

  • Prune your Wisteria and Rose bushes
  • Cut back ornamental grasses
  • Tidy up perennials
  • Remove Hellebore leaves
  • Deadhead winter Pansies
  • Cut back Willows


Frost Protection

Keep tender plants in the greenhouse or in a cold frame if not done so already. You should also raise any containers on feet and keep them grouped against a house wall to utilise the warmer temperature.

Any terracotta pots that aren’t frost proof should be moved indoors or in a shed, failing that wrapping in bubble wrap or fleece should prevent cracking.

Planting and Caring for Fruit Plants

We’ve been lucky to have a fairly mild winter so far, and as the soil isn’t frozen this year January is a perfect time to plant bare-rooted fruit trees and bushes. You can also crack on with pruning currants and gooseberry bushes.

Getting ready for Spring

  • Clean pots, tools, water butts and greenhouses in preparation for spring. this will set you up for a great growing season.
  • Start planning what you want to do with your garden in the months to come. Now is the time to order bulbs and plants from the comfort of your armchair.
  • Check your winter protection is still working for you – survey any stakes, supports and ties that might have been damaged in bad weather.
  • Continue looking after wildlife – put out food for hungry birds and continue to leave some areas of your garden uncut for shelter until the spring.

Pruning Apple and Pear Trees


How much:

  • Aim to take between 10-20% off the whole canopy in one winter. Work around the tree evenly and keep in mind that less is more – if you’re unsure, it’s better to come back to it next year and do some more then.

What to achieve:

  • The more you prune, the stronger the regrowth (if the tree is healthy). Your aim is to take out a bit of old wood each winter to stimulate new growth. The majority of fruiting wood should be quite young, one to four years old, as that fruits best.