The New Year is here, and it's time to get going in the garden again!
Whatever the weather, there's always something to do, and here are Chris Whitelock's Top Gardening Tips for January.
15 gardening tips for January
- Put potted Christmas trees outside as soon as possible to ensure survival. Leaving them inside for too long will do them no good. Rootballed trees should be planted out or potted up. If potting up, use John Innes compost for best results.
- Plant a new tree or shrub to celebrate the new year! Provided the ground isn't waterlogged or frozen, winter's a good time to plant trees and shrubs, and at this time of year, you can buy bare root plants, which are cheaper than container-grown – a great idea if you're planting hedges or redoing a shrub border.
- Mulch your borders and vegetable beds with a thick layer (at least 5cm/2in) of well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost. This will improve soil structure, helping the soil retain moisture during dry periods and drain better in wet weather.
- Cut back any soggy-looking perennials that have died back and clear away leaves from beds, as they can be a harbour for slugs and snails over winter.
- It's time to get the seed potatoes in! We have a wide range in-store and online. To help you decide what varieties could be right for you, we have compiled a short read on the types and attributes of seed potatoes.
- Cut back old hellebore leaves. This makes the flowers easier to see and reduces the spread of hellebore leaf spots, a fungal disease.
- Deadhead winter pansies to encourage a second flush of flowers.
- Prune shrub roses, removing all dead, damaged and spindly growth, then cutting branches back by a third just above an outward-facing bud. Use sharp secateurs and make cuts that slope away from the bud so rainwater will run off the cut.
- Bird care is important at this time of year, so top up bird feeders with sunflower seeds, suet balls and other high-energy foods. Make sure there's clean water in bowls or birdbaths for birds to drink and wash their feathers.
- Get your tools in order while you have some time to spare. Sharpen lawnmowers and secateurs, and clean out old pots ready for seed sowing in spring.
- If you want to sow early peas, prepare the soil now by laying fleece, black plastic or cloches over the ground now to warm it up.
- Prune apple and pear trees, as well as soft fruit like blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants.
- Prune out broken branches from wind damaged shrubs making clean cuts using a pruning saw or loppers. If there is the risk of infection via pruning cuts, use a thin layer of Vitax Medo pruning compound to the cut surfaces.
- Plant winter flowering shrubs where they can be seen from the house to provide winter cheer. These include winter flowering Viburnums, Mahonia and Lonicera. Winter flowering shrubs are often very fragrant.
- Brighten up your home with houseplants. Flowering ones are great for a spot with plenty of natural light and foliage types are good for a shadier area.
Your last job for January – visit us to stock up on all your gardening essentials. You'll find everything you need plus a warm welcome and renowned Mulberry Café in our centre at Whitestone, Hereford, HR1 3RX.
