Your garden in January

THE ESSENTIAL GARDENING JOBS FOR JANUARY

The garden in January needs to be prepared for all sorts of weathers, and if you’ve been following our advice over the last few months, your hard work is done for now.

Most plants are dormant this month as they sleep through the cold weather, but there are still a few things to do in the garden. Spring is just around the corner and work can be done to prepare for the warmth of the new season.

When its not too cold, beds and borders can be dug over and lawn edges can be repaired and re-shaped. Don’t forget to keep feeding the birds, as food is scarce for them over the winter. PROTECT PLANTS

January is known for cold frosts and bitter winds so plants will need protecting. If you haven’t already done so, ensure protective fleeces are in place on tender plants over-wintering outdoors. Lift containers up onto pot feet – if water isn’t draining away the soil can become water logged. Wet compost can rot roots and cause pots to crack in frost. Remove snow from tree and shrub branches by knocking with a broom. Even a small amount of snow can add a lot of weight to branches, causing them to snap.

DIG OVER BARE GROUND PLANT OF THE MONTH HELLEBORUS

Run a fork through your vegetable patch or flower beds. This will help to aerate – getting air into the soil is important because plant roots need oxygen. Choose a dry day when the soil isn’t too wet. Don’t break your back breaking down large lumps of soil. Keeping them large can help air circulate and any later frosts will break them up. FEED THE BIRDS

Natural food sources for birds are in short supply during the winter. Give them a helping hand by putting food out for them. Keep the food topped up but not full all the time – little and often is best. Why should you plant them? Popular because they flower in cold winter and early spring, Hellebores herald the start of the New Year bringing a touch of colour to the garden. Commonly know as ‘ Christmas Roses’ they are easy to grow and very hardy. They produce attractive flowers and their leaves create a perfect evergreen backdrop to spring flowering bulbs.

How should you plant them?

Plant in shady herbaceous borders and the areas between deciduous shrubs to give an early splash of colour. Happy in dappled shade they should be planted in rich, heavy soil that won’t dry out in the summer. ideal planting companies include Snowdrops, Primrose,