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The January Garden: The Checklist

January 10, 2023

What to do in the garden in January

As winter sets in, many gardeners put away their tools and wait for the warmer weather of spring. But gardening in January doesn’t have to be a total loss. There are plenty of things you can do to keep your garden healthy and vibrant even in the coldest months. From pruning to pest control, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your garden looks great come spring. Read on for some helpful gardening tips for January!

1. Prune Trees and Shrubs: January is a great month to tidy up your garden by pruning any trees and shrubs that need it. Remove any dead or diseased branches and cut back any overgrown ones. This will help to keep your garden looking neat and tidy and promote healthy growth from the plants.

2. Clear Out Debris: Spend some time clearing out any debris from the garden that has built up over the winter months. This includes fallen leaves, branches, and other garden waste. Removing this will help to keep your garden looking neat and tidy.

3. Plant Spring Bulbs: Planting spring bulbs in January is a great way to get a head start on the season. Planting them early will ensure that they have enough time to develop and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful display of colour in the spring. More here: Buying Spring Bulbs

4. Mulch The Garden: Mulching your garden in January is a great way to protect your plants from the cold winter weather and help retain moisture in the soil. It also keeps weeds at bay and adds organic matter to the soil.

5. Start Composting: If you don’t already have a compost heap, now is a great time to start one. Composting is a great way to reduce your food waste and provide your garden with nutrient-rich organic matter.

6. Plant Fruit Trees: Planting fruit trees in January is a great way to get a head start on the growing season. Planting them now will give them enough time to develop and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour in the summer months.

7. Plant Seeds: January is a great time to start planting seeds for the growing season. Planting them early will give them enough time to develop and you’ll have a beautiful display of colour in the summer months.

8. Weed The Garden: Take some time to do some weeding in your garden. Remove any unwanted weeds and tidy up the beds to help keep your garden looking neat and tidy. You can find some innovative and new weeding tools here: best weeding tools for the garden.

9. Inspect Plants: Spend some time inspecting your plants to ensure they are healthy and free from pests and diseases. Removing any dead or diseased plants will help to keep your garden looking its best.

10. Repair Garden Structures: Take some time to repair any garden structures such as fences or pergolas that may have been damaged over the winter months. This will help to keep your garden looking neat and tidy.

On tip: I use my garden journal constantly during these winter months to plan and keep me sane ;).