Happy New Year!
January gardening jobs are brilliant, in my view, because they get you out of the house after the Christmas festivities and help set you up for the year ahead.
Many of them can be completed quickly, meaning you don’t have to be out in the cold for longer than absolutely necessary, but you will feel better after some fresh air and exercise – think of it as a free workout!
Look after your lawn
Winter is even tougher than the summer on our lawns, because while grass will revive after a drought, waterlogging and freezing are harder to bounce back from.
Ideally, stay off your lawn as much as possible as part of your winter lawn care. If it is wet, your footfall can compact the soil and create muddy areas, and if frozen it can kill the grass, again leaving open spaces for moss and weeds.
If you have an area of compacted lawn around your washing line try aerating it (spearing it) with a garden fork. This helps to open up the soil and to improve drainage and airflow around the roots of the grass.
Areas of the lawn overhung by trees and shrubs often collect lots of moss and algae because the overhead growth blocks sunlight and airflow. Improve matters by pruning back the branches (if they are deciduous) in winter, and aerating the lawn below.
Also, watch out for worm castings – slimy coils of mucus and soil excreted by worms – as they can be a breeding ground for weed seeds. Avoid treading on them, and when they have dried out, swish them away with a broom or the back of a rake.
Flowers
Choose winter clematis: Winter-flowering clematis are a great bet for lovely blooms during the chilly months.
Tips for growing clematis for winter:
- Opt for free-draining soil that’s been well improved with organic material so roots can develop without getting waterlogged.
- Dig deep when planting and incorporate a shovel-full of well-rotted manure or garden compost as well as a handful of Bonemeal around the root.
- Water with a full can twice a week during summer. Halve this amount by September to prevent flooding over the colder months.
Prune wisteria: Wisteria pruning isn’t as complicated as many fear. Here’s how to work with this vigorous climber for a show stopping display of flowers in spring. The pruning that is carried out now, in January or February, further concentrates the plant’s effort into building up flower-bearing spurs. The plant is dormant and leafless, which makes it easy to see what you are doing, and you will find that the pruning is much simpler than it sounds.
On older plants, more severe pruning might be needed, if there is old or dead growth, or branches getting in the way of doors or windows. Always cut stems back to a main branch, pruning just above a strong young shoot lower down, and aim to leave a well-spaced frame of stems covering the desired space. Tie in new stems to fill gaps if necessary.
All that is required at this time of year is to work over the climber, cutting back the same growths even further, this time to two or three buds.
Move trees and shrubs: Winter is a good time to transplant deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re dormant and have no leaves. It’s always a bit of a risk, but you can increase the odds of success by following a few simple tips.
How to move plants
- First of all, the soil needs to be moist, so if the weather has been dry, water around the plant the day before you plan to do the moving. Obviously avoid trying to move plants during cold spells when the ground is frozen, too.
- The next thing to do before you dig up your plant, is prepare the space it’s going to move into. Dig the new hole in advance so when you do lift the plant, it’s not sitting around waiting while you get its new planting spot ready. Use leaf mould, grit and compost as necessary to improve the soil in the new position.
- When you’re ready to move, start by digging around the plant with a spade to investigate the extent of its roots – the bulk of the roots will usually be in an area as wide as the plant’s branches above ground. Ideally you want to dig up as big a root ball as possible, so you may need help from a friend when it comes to the heavy lifting.
- Gently tie in the branches if needs be, to keep them safe and protected while the plant is being heaved around.
- When you’ve worked your way around and below the roots with the spade, start to lever the rootball from the soil. You might need to cut through one or two roots to free the plant completely – use secateurs or loppers for a clean cut. Have a ground sheet ready to put the root ball on and make moving it to the new planting spot easier.
- Position the rootball in the new planting hole, after checking it’s the right depth and width to accommodate all the roots when they’re spread out fully. Use the soil mark on the plant’s stem to check you’re planting it at the same depth it was before.
- Backfill the hole, firming down the soil as you go to make sure there are no air pockets and the plant is nicely anchored. You may also want to stake taller trees or shrubs for the first year or so, especially if your garden is windy.
- Water the plant in well and make sure you also water in dry spells. The last thing you want while the plant is trying to re-establish is for the roots to dry out, but equally, take care not to over-water and risk the rootball sitting in waterlogged ground.
Feed the birds
In severe weather, the RSPB advises putting out high-energy (high fat) food for birds twice daily, in the morning and early afternoon, to keep up with demand. Don’t overfill feeders if birds aren’t using them, as stale food can cause problems.
When feeding wild animals in your garden, help keep them safe from cats.
- Feeders up high - place feeders up high, well above cat height and away from cat perches such as branches and walls.
- Bird tables out in the open - ensure bird tables are in open areas, away from any cover that cats could use for stalking prey. If mounted on top of a pole, use material such as metal that cats cannot climb.
- Keep food off the ground - this can leave small mammals and birds vulnerable to cats.
- Steep roof bird boxes - bird boxes with features like steep roofs stop cats from sitting on top of them and waiting.
- Houses for small mammals - logs, stone and compost piles provide refuge or purpose-built refuges like toad or hedgehog houses.
Happy Gardening! 🌱