January gardening tasks

It’s that time of year when the gardens are looking pretty shabby but there’s plenty to be done to keep them as tidy as possible and ready for the spring growth.

Review your plants, as when the weather is mild you can still plant roses and bare rooted shrubs and trees. Winter digging is necessary for beds and borders that need to be planted in early spring. The earlier this is done the better, allowing time for frosts to act and break down the soil. The longer any rough clods of soil are exposed to frost, the easier it will be to get a fine tilth in spring. In late January to early February we are out looking at seeds, tubers and bulbs for the coming season. And of course with the wind and rain we’ve been having we are always busy cleaning up fallen leaves, trees and debris!