Gardening by Month - January

Happy New Year! Kick-start your gardening year by venturing out on bright sunny days for fresh air in the garden. We may be in the thick of winter, but the shortest day is behind us and the anticipation of spring isn’t far off. 

If your garden is looking bare, why not plant some containers of colour? Winter flowering pansies, heather and cyclamen all look good in pots. Position them where you can best appreciate their flowers and foliage. 

If the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, plant hellebores and winter jasmine for colour that can last until spring. Hellebores like a shady spot with well-drained soil. They can flower from now until March. Winter jasmine has pretty flowers and is the hardiest of jasmines. Train it against a sunny wall for months of colour. 

For a dramatic touch, evergreen grasses add interest and movement all year round. Ornamental grasses tend to mix well with other plants and they’re low maintenance. Carex and festuca are great evergreen options. Why not choose varieties that give contrasting shades to perk up the less colourful months of winter? 

Other jobs for January:

• Remove dead or damaged branches from shrubs and trees. 
• Keep a section of the garden wild to encourage biodiversity. It can become a habitat for insects and a food source for birds and other wildlife.  
• If you haven’t mulched already, add a generous layer for some winter protection and to keep moisture in the soil. 
• On icy days, check that birds and other wildlife have an unfrozen water source. 
• Keep a steady supply of high energy feed such as suet balls, since birds come to rely on it when natural food sources are scarce. 
• Remember to water new plants and container plants during dry spells. 

Back in the warmth of your home, enjoy your houseplants. There are various flowering houseplants to naturally brighten the place up. Orchids bring long lasting elegance. It’s best to give them natural light away from draughts. Houseplants are our Plants of the Month and Garsons cardholders have 20% off the selection this month. 

We wish you a happy gardening year ahead!