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THIS MONTH in THE GARDEN …
JANUARY
Stock Up On Seeds
January is the perfect time to start planning what seeds you are going to sow and getting topped up ! You can even make a start sowing some slower growing vegetable varieties now . Leeks , onions and Brussels sprouts can all be sown in January , and if you have a greenhouse then you can also sow summer cabbages , aubergines , lettuces and sweet peas . Sweet peas tend to be better the earlier they are sown ( autumn is best ) to give time for a strong sturdy plant to develop .
Winter Pruning
When trees and shrubs are dormant in winter , you have the perfect opportunity to give them a prune and tidy up . You can often see the branches much more clearly making it easier to take out poor quality , crossing or diseased stems . Always read up on the specific shrub you are pruning beforehand and leave springflowering shrubs such as forsythia alone , otherwise you will remove all the buds getting ready to flower ! Climbing roses are also best pruned now while they are dormant allowing you to get a clear look at the framework ; prune back any cold damaged stems to a healthy bud .
Winter Bedding
Winter bedding plants such as pansy and viola are extremely hardy even in the most cold conditions and will brighten up your garden throughout the winter . They will benefit from regular maintenance in the form of deadheading and watering . Pansies and violas can get surprisingly dry in winter , especially in tubs and baskets in windy spots . Always make sure they are moist but well drained ; sitting in water will cause the roots to rot . Deadheading regularly will prevent seeds from being set and force more buds to form giving you lots of colour well into the early spring months .
Winter Colour
Two of the best plants for colour in January are snowdrops and hellebores and it ’ s a great month to get them planted . Snowdrops establish much more quickly when planted in the green ( in leaf ) and your local garden centre should have a good supply in January . There are more and more varieties available now , some with larger or double flowers giving you a fantastic show . Hellebores are a fantastic evergreen perennial . Low maintenance and flowering for months on end in a range of different colours , they are a must for all garden settings in the darker months of the year . Plant smaller varieties in tubs and baskets and larger ones direct into the garden . Many varieties will grow in very shady positions .
Prepare The Allotment
January is a preparing month for the vegetable garden . Clear away all the weeds and old crops from the previous year and dig in peat-free compost as you go . If you prefer the no dig method , generously mulch the surface of the soil instead and allow the winter weather to do the work for you . If you still have brassicas in the ground such as Brussels sprouts and cabbages , make sure they are protected with netting . Hungry pigeons will make short work of them when other food sources are in short supply . millbrookgc . co . uk
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