Caring for your garden - January jobs

There's always plenty of things that need doing in the garden throughout the year, even in the cold winter months! Have a read below for a quick reminder of some of the jobs that need doing during January.

Looking After Your Plants

This is the best month for pruning many garden plants, including your Wisteria plants. Make sure to cut back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds. Rose bushes also require pruning while they lie dormant over these chilly months. Make sure to trim these back to just above a bud and remove any dead branches. It's also a good idea to cut back any ornamental grasses before growth begins, and the cut down old stems of perennial plants.

If you're a keen vegetable grower now is the time to harvest any parsnips and leeks. If you are planning on growing peas early in the year, make sure to place a cloche over the soil to let it warm up before it's time to sow. Start sprouting early potatoes by standing them on a tray or egg box in a bright, cool, but frost-free place. Or start growing some early potatoes in containers under cover.

Apple and pear trees are also in need of pruning during January while they lie dormant. But make sure to leave plums, cherries and apricots until the summer months as pruning these can make them more susceptible to silver leaf infections. Blackcurrent bushes, gooseberries and red currents are able to be pruned in order to maintain a good framework.

Make sure you avoid walking on your lawn if it has a layer of snow or frost as this can damage the grass beneath. Heavy snow should also be removed from hedges and conifers to prevent branches from snapping under the weight. 

What can you do from your sofa?

There are also plenty of jobs you can do to prepare for the upcoming Spring from the warmth of your sofa! Make a garden plan to help you decide what you would like to grow this year and begin purchasing the seeds you will need. Planning your vegetable plot can help ensure good crop rotation and prevent pests and diseases. If you're interested in growing some fruit trees, start buying them now ready to plant in the spring. A good plan is key to successful plants!