January Gardening Jobs

January is a month of short days and long dark nights. It's usually a time to take things easy in the garden and start planning for the spring. So getting a head start can make life a lot easier come spring! Once it's warm enough to brave the elements outside, make sure to tackle the below the gardening jobs.

Gardening Jobs for the Month of January

-Indoor forced bulbs that were in the house for Christmas displays, and have finished flowering, can now be left outside in a sheltered spot.

-January is the perfect time to take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs.

-Deadhead winter bedding plants like pansies and violas, and remove any foliage affected by downy mildew.

-Protect tender plants from any overnight frosts. Where possible, bring potted plants into sheltered areas.

-Clean up any weedy beds ready for mulching in the spring. Take care not to let leaves accumulate around alpines as they will die if left damp for too long.

-Vacant areas in the vegetable garden can be dug over, forking in plenty of rotted manure or compost. Cover the soil with black polythene afterwards to prevent leaching of nutrients, and to also raise the temperature for early sowings.

-Continue to clear leaves and flower stems from perennials and add them to the compost heap. In mild areas, perennial clumps can still be divided. This will revive tired and poorly flowering clumps.

-Seeds of the following can be sown indoors in gentle heat to provide early plants: geraniums; verbena; lobelia; begonia; and sweet pea. Soak sweet pea seeds in tepid water overnight before sowing.

-Inspect stored tubers, corms and bulbs for rotting and discard any that show signs of deterioration or rotting.

-Pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs can be carried out from now throughout the dormant season. Now is also a good time to prune apple and pear trees, well in advance of bud burst.

-Do not neglect to feed birds as food can be scarce and difficult to access at this time of year for them.