Gardening Jobs for January
January - General Tasks
Have your christmas tree shredded for recycling. (not your fake one!!!).
Real Christmas trees with root ball and kept watered can be planted outside.
Check stakes on trees and tall plants are secure.
Bare-rooted roses can still be planted.
Protect pots by moving them to a sheltered position.
Pots at risk of frost damage should be brought inside.
You can mulch borders now.
Send off for seed catalogues and place orders.
Finish raking up fallen leaves.
Raise patio pots off the ground to improve drainage and reduce waterlogging.
Dig over any bare areas, adding plenty of organic matter.
Brush snow from evergreen shrubs and conifers, to reduce damage their branches.
Check bulbs, corms and tubers in store for signs of deterioration.
Remove pumps and filters from ponds and water features to prevent damage by freezing water.
Keep ponds covered with netting to prevent fallen leaves blowing in.
Move shrubs that are in the wrong place or have outgrown their position.
Get your mowers and machinery in for service if not already done.
January - Plant Care
Some perennials can be pruned back hard.
Prune back your buddleia hard now.
Pinch out tips of autumn sown sweet pea seedlings to encourage bushy plants.
January - Lawn Care
Turfing may be possible in mild spells.
Remove any fallen leaves.
Stay off the lawn while wet or frozen to prevent damage.
January - Fruit and Vegetables
Fruit trees and bushes can still be planted.
Raspberries and cane fruits can be planted now.
Prune fruit trees.
Pot-grown peaches and nectarines should be brought under cover for winter.
Espaliers and cordons, with sideshoots shortened in summer can be reduced to three buds.
Any new shoots on espaliers and cordons can be tied in to their supports.
Place forcing jars over dormant rhubarb clumps to encourage stems for an early harvest.
Shorten sideshoots on red and white currants to just one bud.
Order your seed potatoes now for delivery later in the winter.
January - Greenhouse / Indoors
Clear greenhouse gutters, empty and clean water-butts.
Wash down greenhouse roof to remove dirt, moss and algae and let in more light.
Check for pests.