Happy New Year! Believe it or not the days are starting to lengthen as we start the New Year so it’s a good month to plan before the growth spurt and you can see a blank canvas, so to speak. January is also a good time to order seeds and plants whilst protecting existing shrubs, Mediterranean trees and plants from the winter blast.
Below is a handy list for your reference to consider; I hope you find it helpful. Thanks and Happy New Year Steve Lloyd – Director. Lloyd’s of Chester Ltd.
Plan for the Year Ahead: This is the ideal time to plan your garden for the year ahead. Ordering seeds, plants, and gardening supplies now will save you money as many nurseries offer early-bird discounts for pre-orders.
Pruning: January is a good time to prune dormant trees and shrubs to remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Including apple and pear trees, most rose varieties, buddleias, and other hardy plants.
Landscaping & Outdoor Buildings: This month is a good time to mend fences, build or repair raised beds, build compost bays and stain or paint sheds and panels (on a dry day and the temperature is above 5˚C).
Composting: Maintain your compost bins. Turn the contents regularly if you can to allow the decomposition process to continue, even in colder weather. Approx. every 6 weeks.
Jetwash patios or driveways and refresh paving grout if needed to give your space a lift and keep down weeds. It is also a good time to clean your greenhouse if you have one. Both glass or plastic, giving it a good wash and wipe down will greatly improve the growing environment for your plants. Removing algae, moss and grime means more light is let in and it helps to control pests and diseases.
Organise your garden tools: Clean and sharpen garden tools so they are ready for the busy growing season ahead. Don’t forget to sterilise when preparing cuttings for propagation.
Houseplants: Indoor heating can be very drying for houseplants, so check them regularly to make sure they are kept moist, and not allowed to dry out.
Protect Plants from Frost: Use fleece, straw even old sheets or sacks to protect tender plants and shrubs from frost. This is particularly important for plants like figs, olive trees, fuchsias, dahlias, and citrus trees. Bring pots indoors if you can and containers with less hardy plants, such as geraniums to avoid frost damage.
Cut back ornamental grasses: If they’re looking untidy, cut back ornamental grasses, leaving about 5-10cm of growth to protect the base of the plant.
Prepare for Planting: Dig over garden beds. If the soil is not frozen or waterlogged, dig over your garden beds to aerate the soil and allow it to dry out. This can help with drainage and reduce compaction.
Start indoor sowing: Some seeds, like sweet peas and broad beans, can be started indoors in pots to get an early start on the season. If you have a vegetable patch or plan to create one now is a good time to consider your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season. A raised bed can be handy if you are short on space or need to reduce the risk of back strain!
Look After Lawns: Avoid walking on frozen grass. If the weather is very cold and frosty, avoid walking on your lawn, as this can damage the grass and leave unsightly marks. If you have moss on your lawn, it’s a good time to treat it with a moss killer (although avoid applying when the grass is frozen).
Wildlife: Winter is a crucial time for feeding birds. Keep bird feeders (squirrel proof ideally!) topped up with food such as seeds, nuts, and fat balls. Birdbath may also need topping up or ice removing.
Protect Ponds: If your pond is shallow, cover it with netting or a pond cover to prevent ice from forming, which could harm fish and aquatic plants. Remove any leaves that have fallen into ponds to prevent them from decomposing and affecting water quality.
If we can help with any of the above tasks please do not hesitate to contact us