January is not exactly a month that we associate with outdoor tasks like gardening. The thought of sitting on your rattan garden furniture in sub-zero temperatures will be enough to chill the hearts of most people. There are useful tasks that can be done to get ready for spring though – if you are prepared to brave the cold.
Flower gardens
If the focus of your garden is flowers, January is the time for pruning. Everything from rhododendrons to rose bushes and wisteria can be trimmed back during the month. This is also true of other features of flower gardens such as trees and ornamental grasses. The idea is to get rid of dead leaves and branches to leave space for new life in spring.
Vegetable gardens
You will find that some vegetables can be harvested even in the depths of winter – for example, leeks and parsnips. Another task you can do for your veggie garden during January is to get the ground ready for planting. This means covering the soil with a cloche to help it warm up before you start sowing in early spring.
Fruit gardens
January is also pruning month if you have a fruit garden. Pear or apple trees should be trimmed of dead branches during the month. Aim for goblet-shaped branches in an open frame. It is a good idea to prune back gooseberry or currant bushes during the month too, as this will give the healthy branches more room.
Set up a bird table
Your garden acts as a sanctuary for birds throughout the year. To keep the chill off your feathered visitors, be sure to place out plenty of bird feeders so that, no matter the season, they’ll be offered a safe haven.
These are just some of the useful garden jobs for January.
