Gardening Calendar
Gardening Calendar
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
NOVEMBER
November days can be chilly, following overnight frosts - but that doesn't mean you have to lock the back door and stay inside. As long as you wrap up warm, there are plenty of great opportunities for tidying up, planting and generally getting the garden ready for winter. If you need to keep warm, then get on with some gentle digging – but don’t overdo it or you could end up with a bad back!
​
-
Tidy up beds and borders, clearing away dead and dying leaves and faded flower stems.
-
There's still time to plant spring-flowering bulbs – but get it done quickly.
-
Containers planted with evergreens and winter-flowering plants will provide months of colour.
-
Raise all patio containers on to bricks or pot feet to avoid them sitting in water if you didn't do it last month.
-
Keep raking up fallen leaves – especially on the lawn or around small plants. Use them to make leafmould.
-
If you didn’t do it last month, prune rose stems by up to half to help prevent wind rock.
-
This is the best month to take hardwood cuttings of various deciduous shrubs and soft fruit.
-
Check tree ties and stakes are secure to prevent tree roots moving around too much in strong winds.
-
Lift and store dahlia tubers once the first frosts have blackened the foliage.
-
Insulate containers to protect plant roots from severe cold and frost.
-
Check compost in containers to ensure it doesn’t dry out. Even after rain, the compost can remain quite dry.
-
This is a great time to plant hardy trees, shrubs, climbers, roses, perennials and hedges.
-
Move deciduous small trees, shrubs and climbers that are growing in the wrong place.
Vegetable Garden:
-
Dig over the soil in the vegetable patch if you garden on heavy clay soil.
-
Plant garlic cloves, but make sure it is a variety suitable for autumn planting.
-
There’s still time to sow a hardy overwintering broad bean for an early crop next year.
-
Radishes, cress, salad leaves and winter lettuces can be grown in pots on a light windowsill or in a conservatory.
Lawn care:
-
If you haven’t done it yet, feed the lawn with an autumn lawn food to build up its strength.
-
There’s still time to start new lawns from seed or turf before winter sets in.
-
Keep mowing the lawn if temperatures are mild and the grass is still growing.
-
Sweep away toadstools before their caps open and spread their spores.
​