What to do in January
January is typically the coldest month of the year so some of your plants may need protecting from the frost, gale-force winds and persistent rain. To protect plants from frost, use horticultural fleece or if possible, move plants in to a frost free location such as a green house or conservatory. Ensure the drainage in your garden is doing its job to avoid flooding. Few plants will withstand a waterlogged garden for a long period of time. If plants are left standing in water it can cause leaves to turn yellow, rotting of the roots and literally death by drowning. As the water fills the plant it leaves no room for oxygen, so like us humans, they drown.
January is also the ideal time to trim any hedges, prune any apple or pear trees that are getting too big, start forcing your rhubarb, feed the birds and plant some Hellebores or Hamamelis' (witch hazel) which should currently be in flower. that is left now is is allotment. Dig in some organic fertilizer such as chicken pellets or well rotted farm yard manure in to any un-occupied areas and perhaps consider using a green manure to help boost nitrogen levels, however if you use chicken manure pellets green manure may not be necessary as chicken manure is rich in nitrogen. See this hand out to learn more about the use of nitrogen in the garden. Begin chitting potatoes & conceder planting shallots, onions & some varieties of the broad bean and pea.
