While gardening in icy January conditions might not be everyone’s idea of fun, carrying out only a handful of important jobs now could well pay off in the months ahead, an expert says.
James Ewens, a garden specialist from garden furniture firm Alexander Francis said: “Winter can make quite an inhospitable environment for plants and wildlife, but believe it or not, January is a great time to start planning for the year ahead.
“The beginning of the year is all about preparation,” he added, as per GB News, and suggested creating a calendar for keeping track of planting schedules.
So as the days gradually get longer and longer, Ewens recommends the following five winter jobs to maximise your plants’ potential.
Pruning dormant plants
The first tip is to prune dormant plants (those which go into “winter rest” due to the cold conditions).
These include apple and pear trees, roses, as well as climbing plants like wisteria.
Enrich soil with organic matter
Ewens also recomends encriching soil with the addition of garden compost or rotted manure to vegetable plots, as well as around perennial plants, as per the outlet.
Getting your garden beds ready
It’s also important to make sure dead foliage and weeds are cleared away from flower beds and borders. After that, aerate the soil, provided it’s not frozen, Ewens said.
Plant bare-root plants
January is a great time for planting bare-root shrubs, trees and roses during a period in which they are dormant.
Get your seeds organised
Another top tip is to use winter to get your seed collection in order. This includes checking expiry dates, or perhaps getting ready for early indoor sowing, if possible.
Meanwhile, Ish, known as gardening.with.ish on TikTok, has advised three key ways to avoid your plants getting ravaged by the cold temperatures.
You can find out more here.
