What to do during January in your garden and greenhouse.
Your monthly gardening checklists
Flowers
- Plant bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees, as long as the ground isn't frozen
- Take root cuttings of fleshy-rooted perennials such as oriental poppies, acanthus and verbascums
- Establish new colonies of snowdrops and hellebores by buying plants in flower, so you can choose the prettiest blooms
- Clear away soggy, collapsed stems of perennials and compost them
- Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as forsythia, willow and viburnum
- Remove and bin hellebore foliage marked with black blotches, to limit the spread of leaf spot disease
- Press mistletoe berries into the bark of apple trees to establish your own mistletoe plants
- Check that small alpines don't become smothered by fallen leaves and other wind-blown debris
- Deadhead winter pansies and other bedding regularly, and remove any foliage affected by downy mildew
- Move dormant plants that are in the wrong place to more suitable sites
- Check for rot on stored bulbs and tubers, and ensure dahlia and canna tubers haven't totally dried out
- Continue pruning climbing roses, while they are dormant
On the forum: share your growing tips with other gardeners and ask for advice
Plant snowdrops
Now is the time to buy snowdrops and hellebores
Fruit and veg
- Winter-prune apple and pear trees to remove any dead, damaged, congested and diseased branches
- Sort out your seeds, throwing away empty or out-of-date packets and noting down any to buy for the coming season
- Plan this year's crop rotation to ensure you grow each type of crop in a different bed to previous years
- Prune gooseberries and redcurrants, cutting sideshoots back to three buds from their base
- Clear old crops and weeds from the veg plot, then dig over the soil, mixing in compost as you go
- Regularly inspect stored crops, discarding any showing signs of rot or deterioration
- Plant bare-root fruit bushes and trees into enriched soil, as long as the ground isn't frozen
- Ensure netting is in place over brassicas, such as kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbages, to protect from pigeons
- Cover rhubarb plants with a bucket or terracotta pot to force an early crop of tender long stems
- Feed spring cabbages with high-nitrogen feed to encourage leafy growth
- Prune blackcurrants, if you haven't done so already, removing about a quarter of the old stems
- Order seed potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic bulbs for planting in spring
On the forum: which fruit and veg varieties are you growing?
Prune Apple and Pear trees
Now is the time to prune side shoots from Apple and Pear trees.
Greenhouse
- Sow winter salads in a greenhouse, conservatory or on a sunny windowsill, for harvests within a few weeks
- Tidy up the greenhouse, getting rid of any broken pots, old compost or debris that could hide unwanted visitors
- Move potted strawberry plants under cover to encourage early fruiting
- Check overwintering plants regularly for aphids, mealy bugs and other pests, and take action where necessary
- Bring potted peaches into the greenhouse to avoid leaf curl disease
- Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) in pots and place on a warm windowsill
- Keep the greenhouse frost-free by installing a thermostatically-controlled electric fan heater
- Bring potted camellias into an unheated porch or greenhouse to encourage early flowering
- Take root cuttings of perennials such as phlox and Japanese anemones, and plant in free-draining compost
- Start sowing seeds of hardy annuals, such as cornflowers, cerinthe and ammi, in modular trays for early flowers
- Prepare your greenhouse for spring by improving the ventilation, shading and heating
- Repot moth orchids after flowering if they look like they're about to burst out of their pot
- Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days to prevent humidity building up
Garden maintenance
- Top up bird baths with fresh water daily and melt ice with warm water on frosty days
- Repair wobbly or damaged fences, and treat wooden structures with preservative during dry spells
- Give your lawn mower a basic service or take it to a dealer for maintenance, while it's not in use
- Put up bird boxes in sheltered spots, on tree trunks, sheds or walls, well before the nesting season begins
- Clean and sharpen your tools, including hoes, secateurs and shears, and spray metal tools with oilÂ
- Sprinkle an all-purpose fertiliser along the base of hedges and around shrubs
- Trim back ivy, Virginia creeper and other climbers that have outgrown their space, before birds start nesting
- Provide high-energy food for birds to help them through the winter months
- Clear soggy leaves, algae and moss from paths, patios, decking and steps
- Dig over any gaps in borders, removing the roots of perennial weeds
- Give empty pots and seed trays a thorough scrubbing ready for the start of the sowing season
- Remove debris from shed and greenhouse guttering, so winter rain can fill up your water butts
- Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene
On the forum: join in the discussion, share your wisdom and ask for help
Sarcococca confusa, also known as ‘Christmas Box’ or ‘Sweet Box’, is a trouble-free evergreen shrub celebrated for its glossy box-like leaves and incredibly fragrant winter blooms. Ideal for a front garden border or patio container, it adds a touch of elegance with its fragrance. While it can reach 2m (6'.6") in height, it is easily manageable through pruning and shaping.
Use code: GWSAR23
Seed Pantry sells a unique, tailored, monthly gardening seasonal subscription service with easy-to-follow planting guides for novice to expert gardeners. Give it a try and save 20% on own-brand products throughout December.
Whether you're searching for a pop of colour or a stunning houseplant, amaryllis is the perfect choice. Though it typically blooms in early spring, it's best known as a Christmas houseplant, making it a delightful gift that adds a touch of magic to holiday displays.