Jackie's Tips
MONTH OF JANUARY
Another year is upon us, and I hope like me you are excited about the year of growing that is to come.
- The
most important job for January is to make sure there is water for the
birds if the weather is frosty and make sure they have plenty of food.
- Make
sure that the winter protection on the plants is all secure and has not
loosened or come off during any high winds.
- Plant
bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees, if the ground isn't
frozen.
- Now
is the time to prune apple and pear trees.
- Take
root cuttings of fleshy-rooted perennials such as Agapanthus, Anemone,
Aster, Bergenia, Lily of the Valley, Euphorbia, Hardy Geraniums, Primulas,
and lots more.
- Now
is the time to plant hellebores and snowdrops by
buying plants in flower, and get good strong plants.
- Clear
away soggy, collapsed stems of perennials put them on the compost heap.
- Take
hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as forsythia, Buddleia, Cornus
(dogwood), Philadelphus and lots more.
- Remove
and destroy any damaged diseased foliage, to limit the spread of leaf spot
disease.
- Check
that small plants in the garden do not become smothered by fallen leaves
and other wind-blown debris.
- Deadhead
winter pansies and other bedding regularly, and remove any foliage
affected by diseases such as black spot & downy mildew.
- If
you have any plants that are in the wrong position in the garden, now is
the time to move them while they are dormant.
- Get
the greenhouse ready for the new season by washing down with disinfectant
to remove algae, moss and dirt. This helps keep down pests and diseases
and also provides more light for germination and growth of the plants.
- Disperse
worm casts in the lawn, the easiest way to do this is use a product called
‘Cast Clear’.
- When
it is raining, cold and windy it is the ideal time to plan what you are
going to grow during the coming year.
- If
not already done, now is the time to sow sweet peas seed, if you don’t
have a greenhouse, this can be done indoors on the kitchen windowsill.
- Strawberry
plants can be grown under cover to give an early crop of fruit.
- Herb
seeds can be sown, and grown indoors. Broad beans, onions seeds, cauliflower, spinach and
spring onions can also be started off indoors.
- Seed potatoes will soon be available for you to buy and start chitting (sprouting) ready for planting once the fear of frost has past.
