Tim’s January Gardening Tips

Whilst a typical January may not entice you out into the garden, the relatively mild winter we’ve had so far means there’s lots to be getting on with. January is a great time to take stock of the garden and plan any changes.

Evergreen shrubs come into their own at this time of year, providing structure, colour and habitats for wildlife. Without any evergreen plants, gardens seem flat and lifeless in winter. Plan now where you need them and plant them in early spring.

When the ground is not frozen or too wet, deciduous trees, shrubs, roses and hedging plants can be planted now. Many can be bought bare root at this time of year, which are cheaper, easier to plant and tend to establish better, the roots having not been confined in a pot.

Many deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers can be pruned now while they are dormant, to create a better shape and encourage flowers and fruiting. Apple trees, pear trees and wisteria should all be pruned back to form flowering spurs. Bush and shrub roses should be pruned too. If you’re not sure how hard to prune them, a good rule of thumb is to halve their height, pruning back to just above an outward facing bud. After pruning climbing roses, the long branches should be tied in horizontally to supports. This will result in more flowers come summer.

Get in touch if you would like more advice or assistance with winter planting and pruning.