Tim's Gardening Tips

January in the Garden

Flower garden

• Cut away and compost old leaves of hellebores to expose the flowers and fresh foliage.
• Plant lily bulbs.
• Keep pots and containers on pot feet or bricks to ensure good drainage.

Roses, shrubs, hedges & climbers

• Plant deciduous shrubs, roses and hedging plants, but avoid doing when the ground is waterlogged or frozen.
• Prune gooseberries, red currants, white currants and blackcurrants.
• Prune deciduous woody plants such as beech and hazel.
• Cut back vigorous deciduous climbers such as Virginia creeper and Boston ivy.
• Winter prune Wisteria to form flowering spurs by cutting back the side shoots shortened by summer pruning to two or three buds.

Trees

• Check tree ties and stakes and adjust if required.
• Plant deciduous trees and stake, but avoid doing when the ground is waterlogged or frozen.
• Prune apple and pear trees (but do not prune Prunus species - cherry, plum and almond - until in full leaf).
• Pollard trees such as horse chestnut and lime.
• Brush any snowfall off the branches of conifers and other evergreen trees to prevent damage.

Lawns & meadows

• Remove molehills as they appear.
• Brush off worm casts with a stiff broom on a dry day.
• Recut lawn edges if required.
• Clean and service mower ready for spring.
• If possible, avoid walking on lawns in frosty weather.

Ponds & water features

• Prevent ponds from freezing over completely by placing a ball or float on the surface.

Wildlife

• Clean out birdbaths and keep free of ice.
• Replenish birdfeeders regularly. Use a variety of different bird foods to attract a wider range of birds.