Weather allowing the good gardener can take great advantage of this month by taking a look around the garden and moving any plants that need re-siting. It is now most important to look towards spring as it’s not far away (thankfully).
If you have snowdrops then they should be just popping their shoots up, it’s a good time to lift & divide moving the surplus clumps to other semi shady spots that they love. Dwarf narcissus, crocus and bluebell can be treated in the same manner.
At this time of year muddy areas can be a problem in the garden or allotment, veg garden etc., a quick, economical & long lasting solution is to use composted woodchip – spread at 2” depth, it stays put & gives a clean free draining path.
January can even be a good time for cut flower for the house with Jasmine nudifolum, Viburnum bodnatense ‘Dawn’, Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ & various other varieties of Skimmia & winter flowering cherry – Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’. The list goes on, don’t ignore this time of year for fragrance & colour.
The kitchen garden
Dig over when possible, keep all brassicas clean of dead leaf, sow early broad bean in the ground if well drained or in pots for planting out later.
Look to purchasing seed potatoes & preparing for planting early varieties.
When possible import & spread well rotted manure and apply lime at 2oz to the square yard to areas where you will be planting brassicas & peas.
Borders
Clean up dead matter & old growth from perennials, this seasons new growth should be starting to appear so any vigorous varieties e.g. Nepeta, Rudbeckia, Iris etc. can be lifted & divided & dispose of all old & tired material.
Hedges
Very early spring is a good time to feed hedges, if room apply a rotted manure to the base of the hedge or an application of a good long term fertiliser e.g. fish, blood & bone is very beneficial to the health & appearance of the hedge.