January brings us the shortest and coldest days of the year, but even now some plants are growing and flowering as if it were high summer. It is an ideal time to catch up on reading gardening advice and get on with the other jobs that the busy months do not give us time to do. Here are our top 10 tips to get ahead this January:
1. Plant your pot grown Christmas tree - remember to plant as soon as possible in January to enjoy next Christmas. Select a spot that has well drained soil, sun and enough space for your tree to sit comfortably. Then all you need to do is keep it watered and protected.
2. Buy seeds early - spend an hour browsing our seeds in-store. Buy anything that takes your fancy before the spring rush.
3. Look out for plug plants - these small bedding plants offer great value for money, and are available early in the year. Pot them up and grow them on before planting outside after the risk of frost.
4. Decide on a colour theme - give your garden a designer look in 2016 by colour theming your containers and accessories. Plan ahead so you can keep your eyes peeled for things that fit in with your scheme.
5. Clean and service tools - get your tools up to scratch so they're in tip-top shape when the gardening season gets in full swing or browse our range in-store. Petrol mowers will benefit from a professional service.
6. Move plants - if you are planning on moving any plants in your garden it's best to do it now when they're fairly dormant, before they put on lots of spring growth.
7. Design new borders - get creative and plan new borders. Use the traditional method, and take pencil to paper to work out perfect plant combinations for the New Year.
8. Tidy your borders - cut back and clear dead foliage and the last of any fallen leaves. Take care not to damage emerging roots.
9. Chit first early potatoes – chit seeded potatoes for 3 - 4 weeks then plant to enjoy tender new potatoes in early summer - Look out for Duke of York, Epicure and Rocket varieties in-store.
10. Force rhubarb - enjoy an early harvest by covering the crowns with a bucket or rhubarb forcer - you'll have tasty young stems in no time.
Flowers
Check and firm in all newly planted shrubs and trees
Check Dahlia tubers, Gladioli and Begonia corms that are being stored and remove any that are rotting
Spot water containers, pots, tubs and window boxes if necessary
Remove snow from evergreen trees and shrubs
Fruit
Check and firm in all newly planted shrubs and trees
Plant new fruit bushes when the ground is not too wet or frozen
Check and loosen tree ties, replace any that are broken
Check stakes on fruit trees for being loose or broken
Vegetables
Dig over vacant plots and leave rough for frost to break down
Check stored vegetables and throw out any that are rotting
Towards the end of the month consider putting up plastic cloches to warm the soil and give early salad crops a good start.
Lawns
Keep off in frosty weather
Have the lawn mower serviced and the blades sharpened
If puddles stay on the lawn, spike with a garden fork or aerator to aid drainage
Greenhouse
Start to heat Greenhouses, which have Peaches and Vines in them
Prune Vines now before sap rises
Check heating is still running efficiently
Ventilate cold houses on mild days
Check plants regularly for pests and disease i.e., moulds and fungus
General Tasks
Keep an area of the pond free of ice to help fish to breathe
Store seed potatoes in a dark place
Clean and oil all garden tools
1. Plant your pot grown Christmas tree - remember to plant as soon as possible in January to enjoy next Christmas. Select a spot that has well drained soil, sun and enough space for your tree to sit comfortably. Then all you need to do is keep it watered and protected.
2. Buy seeds early - spend an hour browsing our seeds in-store. Buy anything that takes your fancy before the spring rush.
3. Look out for plug plants - these small bedding plants offer great value for money, and are available early in the year. Pot them up and grow them on before planting outside after the risk of frost.
4. Decide on a colour theme - give your garden a designer look in 2016 by colour theming your containers and accessories. Plan ahead so you can keep your eyes peeled for things that fit in with your scheme.
5. Clean and service tools - get your tools up to scratch so they're in tip-top shape when the gardening season gets in full swing or browse our range in-store. Petrol mowers will benefit from a professional service.
6. Move plants - if you are planning on moving any plants in your garden it's best to do it now when they're fairly dormant, before they put on lots of spring growth.
7. Design new borders - get creative and plan new borders. Use the traditional method, and take pencil to paper to work out perfect plant combinations for the New Year.
8. Tidy your borders - cut back and clear dead foliage and the last of any fallen leaves. Take care not to damage emerging roots.
9. Chit first early potatoes – chit seeded potatoes for 3 - 4 weeks then plant to enjoy tender new potatoes in early summer - Look out for Duke of York, Epicure and Rocket varieties in-store.
10. Force rhubarb - enjoy an early harvest by covering the crowns with a bucket or rhubarb forcer - you'll have tasty young stems in no time.
Flowers
Check and firm in all newly planted shrubs and trees
Check Dahlia tubers, Gladioli and Begonia corms that are being stored and remove any that are rotting
Spot water containers, pots, tubs and window boxes if necessary
Remove snow from evergreen trees and shrubs
Fruit
Check and firm in all newly planted shrubs and trees
Plant new fruit bushes when the ground is not too wet or frozen
Check and loosen tree ties, replace any that are broken
Check stakes on fruit trees for being loose or broken
Vegetables
Dig over vacant plots and leave rough for frost to break down
Check stored vegetables and throw out any that are rotting
Towards the end of the month consider putting up plastic cloches to warm the soil and give early salad crops a good start.
Lawns
Keep off in frosty weather
Have the lawn mower serviced and the blades sharpened
If puddles stay on the lawn, spike with a garden fork or aerator to aid drainage
Greenhouse
Start to heat Greenhouses, which have Peaches and Vines in them
Prune Vines now before sap rises
Check heating is still running efficiently
Ventilate cold houses on mild days
Check plants regularly for pests and disease i.e., moulds and fungus
General Tasks
Keep an area of the pond free of ice to help fish to breathe
Store seed potatoes in a dark place
Clean and oil all garden tools
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