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Here is our monthly round-up of news, tips, and ideas to make the most of your garden this January!
Although January is a quiet month for gardeners, there are still some useful jobs to do – weather permitting!
Whilst we wait for the days to lengthen, this month is the ideal time to start making plans the coming year.
• Reuse your Christmas tree – Shred your Christmas tree, or chop smaller branches into pieces, and add to your compost heap to create the perfect garden mulch.
• Prep your greenhouse – Ventilate your greenhouse on sunny days to prevent humidity building up – you should also tidy up broken pots or old composts to avoid unwanted critters finding a place to hide!
• Tool maintenance – January is the ideal time to give your lawn mower a basic service or take it to a dealer for maintenance while it’s not in use. It’s also a great time to clean and sharpen your tools, including hoes, secateurs and shears.
• Spruce up your outdoor space – Remove wet leaves, algae and moss from paths, patios, decking and steps – to avoid slipping and to keep them looking their best!
• Plan ahead – January is the best time to plan for the months ahead and order plants and flowers that will best contribute to your vision. Creating a sowing schedule is also beneficial to making sure you don’t overwhelm yourself or your garden by over-planting seeds once they arrive! Visit us in-store to view our range of seeds.
• Keep pruning – Roses, wisteria, honeysuckle, and rhododendrons can all be pruned in January to encourage healthy spring growth. Apple and pear trees will also benefit from having dead, damaged and congested branches removed.
• Take care of birds – Top up bird baths with fresh water daily and melt ice with warm water on frosty days.
• Grow perennials from seed – For a summer display, sow some hardy perennials now, such as delphiniums, agastache and oenothera.
• Clean gutters – Keep gutters and downpipes clear, particularly to ensure that clean rainwater is not interrupted from flowing into water butts.
• Inspect stored produce – If you are storing any fruit and vegetables from your last harvest, check for any that are soft or diseased and get rid of them.
The Big Garden Birdwatch will be taking place this month, from the 26th to the 28th of January – the birdwatch provides a vital insight into the population of the UK’s garden birds, helping to determine the species that are thriving and those that aren’t.
Over the last 50 years we have lost 38 million birds from our skies, so we must take real action to better protect our bird life.
We can help you provide safety and sanctuary for your garden wildlife with our animal care range. Our range of bird tables, bird baths, RSPB-approved bird feeds, handmade nesting boxes and more are available online and in-store!
Click here to take part in the Birdwatch!
• Plant bare-root trees and bushes – Bare-root ornamental trees, roses, shrubs and hedging can all be planted now if the ground isn’t frozen.
• Sow winter salads – Raise plants from seed under cover, in a bright, well-ventilated spot such as a cold frame, conservatory, or greenhouse, for salad leaves all year round.
• Sow onions – To provide them with the longest growing season possible, sow onion seeds in modules filled with fresh compost and keep them indoors at a temperature of at least 10°C. Transplant them outdoors in March or April.
• Plant garlic – Garlic can be planted outdoors in January, but is best kept in a greenhouse or cold frame if it is frosty. Plant 3-10cm deep and 15cm apart. Harvest between June and August.
Take the stress out of Christmas Tree disposal and let The Kirkwood Hospice collect your tree this January!
From the 11th – 14th of January, for a small donation, Kirkwood’s team of volunteers will collect your tree from outside your home and recycle it for you. It’s great for you and good for the environment too!
Read more here.
After taking a break for Christmas, our Midgley and Brigg centres will be reopening on the 3rd of January at 8.00am!
We’re excited to welcome you back, and we look forward to bringing your plans to life in 2024!
• Harvest cauliflower – About two weeks after blanching, or covering the heads, your cauliflower will be ready to harvest. Harvest when the heads are at least 15cm across, but prior to the flower starting to separate.
• Harvest leeks – Harvest just before you plan to use them, as leeks do not store well. Wash carefully to remove any soil trapped between the leaves.
• Harvest winter cabbages – Provided they are netted to provide protection from birds, winter cabbages can be left in the ground until required.
• Harvest kale – When the leaves reach 20cm, harvest kale and discard the thick central vein.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are building a network of wildlife ambassadors across Yorkshire with the aim of bringing about the recovery of our natural world. With 1 in 7 of Yorkshire’s species at risk of extinction, taking action to help protect our wildlife has never mattered more!
A wide range of helpful resources will be available to those who join, which will provide useful information on how to do your bit to protect Yorkshire’s wildlife.
Join #TeamWilder and be part of the solution nature needs!
Read more here.
The National Trust Gardener’s Almanac 2024 by Greg Loades
Information, inspiration, tips and trivia to help you make the most of your gardening year.
Available from Amazon here.
“Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless.”
– Terri Guillemets
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