Gardening Tips for January
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Wildlife
- Feed the bird high energy food in colder weather (eg fat balls, sunflower hearts, peanuts and mealworms) check bird feeders regularly.
- Clean bird baths and drinkers using a bird safe disinfectant and keep them free of ice.
- Put up new nest boxes ready for the breeding season and clean out existing ones.
Trees, Shrubs and Flowers
- Remove old Hellebore leaves.
- Start to cut back ornamental grasses & perennials to base level before new growth sprouts.
- Consider planting winter interest plants in pots for some winter cheer (eg Skimmia, Primroses or Hellebores).
- Deadhead winter pansies.
- Sow Sweet Peas and put on a windowsill or in a greenhouse.
- Sow Lobelia, Salvia and Begonias in a propagator or heated greenhouse.
Lawns
- Keep removing worm casts and mole hills.
- Watch for waterlogging and aerate with a fork. Try not to walk on waterlogged areas to prevent damage.
Fruit and vegetables
- Clear away the remains of old crops on the vegetable plot.
- Improve soil in vegetable patches by adding organic matter when weather permits.
- Cover peach trees to help prevent leaf curl (bring container grown peach trees under cover of possible)
- Sow sprouting seeds such as beetroot, pea shoots, mung beans and alfalfa indoors for a quick, easy and nourishing addition to stir fries, salads and soups.
- Cut out old canes on Autumn fruiting raspberries.
- Prune blueberries by cutting out some of older stems.
- Prepare (chit) potatoes ready for planting.
General Maintenance
- Keep paths free of algae by using a patio cleaner
- Place containers on bricks or pot feet to prevent water-logging.
- Clean out greenhouses ready for early seed sowings also sterilise pots and seed trays with garden disinfectant.
- Rake up leaves and keep garden tidy to make life easier later on in the year.
- Treat fences and woodwork if weather permits.
- Remove snow from greenhouse roofs.
- Check greenhouse heaters are working.
- Plan what you are going to grow this year so you are organised well in advance.
- Clean out debris from ponds if they are not frozen.
- Use cloches, fleece or plastic to warm soil up for earlier sowings and crops.
- Ideal time to install a water butt or add new ones. These can be used for easy and quick watering later in the year.