Gardening Jobs for January

Spring is just a couple of months away and the time is now to lay the groundwork for the growing season. 

If you’re not sure what to do in the garden in January, we’re here to help. We’ve listed all the garden jobs for January below so you can follow them nice and easily and be well prepped for spring.

How to Plant Potatoes

Homegrown potatoes are a taste sensation; shop-bought spuds are nowhere near as flavoursome, so it’s well worth growing your own. Importantly, the time is now to get them on the go! Buy some seed potatoes – miniature tubers – for planting either in large pots or straight in the ground. 

Before planting, encourage them to form shoots using a technique known as ‘chitting’.  Place individual tubers in the empty cups of an egg carton, making sure the rose end is facing upwards – this is the area marked with a cluster of ‘eyes’.

Keep the carton in a cool, light, dry place for roughly six weeks until they have many 2.5cm long, stubby green shoots. Avoid putting them in a warm, dark area as this environment will lead to them growing lots of spindly white shoots that break off easily.

Beds and Borders: When to Plant Bedding Plants and More

Tie in wayward stems of climbing plants to prevent any wind damage and lightly prune any shrubs to encourage lots of growth in the spring. 

Plant bare-root roses, shrubs and fruit so they have time to establish before blossoming or bearing fruit in the summer.

Start planting lily bulbs now for a stunning show of flowers this spring. For gorgeous towers of flowers we recommend the fantastic Jumbo ‘Skyscraper’ Lily!

Cut back all stems of autumn fruiting raspberry plants to ground level.

Rewrite fading plant labels in your kitchen garden before rain and snow renders the names illegible.

Order vegetable seeds and organise packs by order of their sowing date.

Prune apple and pear trees while still dormant over the winter. Other fruit trees like plums and cherries should be left unpruned until summertime as they might otherwise contract silver leaf infections.

Indoor Plant Care for January

Open greenhouse doors and vents once daily to let fresh air in and stale air out. 

Maintain indoor plants by cutting away dead flowers and unsightly leaves. 

Check houseplants for sap-sucking mealybugs and scale insects. Keep the pests under control by using a bug killer.

Around the Garden

Run your hand through soft-leaved ornamental grasses to get rid of dead or dying leaves.

Remove decaying plants and old foliage from ponds by swirling them out with a garden cane.

Tie in wayward shoots of climbing plants to prevent wind breakage.

Avoid walking on your lawn during frosts.

Don’t Forget…

Recycle your Christmas tree by turning it into compost or shredding it into mulch. Alternatively, you could cut the branches off and use them to lay over the soil of tender plants to keep roots warm.

Remove ice from birdbaths and fill them up with fresh water.

Once you’ve done all the garden jobs for January, your plot will be well prepared for the months ahead. And remember, if you need any advice such as how to make compost or how to care for specific plants, our blog has heaps of advice. As for your garden equipment, we’re here both online and in-store with everything you need to get garden-happy.