Gardening Tips for January
ometimes the only way to get through winter is to start gearing up for spring. Whether you'd rather curl up on the couch and start planning what to plant, or brace the cold and get to work outside, there’s something to do to keep you busy, warm, and prepare for your best growing season yet
PLAN & ORGANISE
January is the perfect time to start planting certain summer seeds and bulbs, or at least making sure your stocks are full so you’re ready to plant in the following months
Choose from our extensive range of top-quality seed potatoes and store them in a frost-free, cool place ready for chitting (shooting) in February/March. Check out our guide on how to plant potatoes so you know exactly what to do when the time comes
Plan your spring projects early by selecting your Summer Flowering Bulbs while stocks supplies are high. Begonias, Dahlias, Gladioli, and Lilies are great for adding some stylish summer colour in your garden borders or patio containers with very little effort. Summer bulbs are available to buy from mid-January - be sure to store these in a frost-free, cool, dry place until ready for planting as per the instructions on the pack
TIDY & PREPARE
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs to maintain their shape. If it snows, use a broom to gently brush off Conifers, topiary and evergreen shrubs to prevent damage under the extra weight. Choose a frost-free day to move any plants into your garden to allow them time to establish before the coming spring
Clean up soggy leaves, moss and algae from paths, patios and decking areas to avoid rot and slippery footpaths. Make sure to repair any damages to your garden from the harsh winter weather and give pots and greenhouses a scrub to get them ready for spring planting
Check plants regularly for diseases or damage in case they need any additional protection from cold or wind. Protecting your plants in winter can be as easy as covering them with frost protection fleece or jackets or adding mulch to beds
Hellebores should now be full of bud and ready to reveal their welcome blooms. Carefully cut off any damaged foliage at the base to show the flowers in all their glory. Continue to cut back and tidy faded perennials, but leave grasses and seed heads for food and shelter for wildlife
INSTANT BLOOM
Once the Christmas tree has gone your house may look bare and in need of something new. Inject vibrant fresh foliage and colour with new-season houseplants that will revitalise your home. Choose from our range of fragrant flowering plants, lush foliage, hanging and trailing plants, ferns and succulents. Look out for air-purifying plants to support a healthier environment in your home or office space
There are lots of places in our gardens, doorsteps or greenhouses that could do with some flower or foliage on drearier days. Plants like Hellebores, Conifers, Winter Heathers and Snowdrops look beautiful and add some much-needed spring colour to your dormant gardens
If your green fingers are itching, growing microgreens is a great way to satisfy that gardening urge and pack nutrients into your sandwiches and salads for that post-Christmas health kick
You can also grow your own Sweet Peas, an easy activity that can be done inside or outside. Sowing Sweet Peas this month gets you ahead of the game, giving you an earlier bloom to look forward to around April. Watch out for mice, which have a taste for germinating pea seeds! Once early spring days start to get warmer then, you can move your Sweet Peas into the garden
We would love to see what you get up to in the garden this January, take a picture and tag us on socials with @dobbiesgardencentres for your chance to be featured on our social media channels