January 2025

JOBS IN THE GARDEN FOR JANUARY

Trees and Shrubs

Now is a good time to prune deciduous trees into shape or to reduce height if it is needed. However do not

prune any member of the Plum or Cherry family, including all its ornamental forms. Wisteria can be pruned

now by cutting back all of last year’s growth to 2 or 3 buds from the main stem. Remove the leaves from

your Lenten Roses (Helleborus Hybridus) now to make room for the display of the flowers which are just

emerging from the base. Removing the leaves also helps in the control of the Helleborus leaf spot disease.

Flowers

Cut back all herbaceous perennial plants to ground level if you have not already done this task. Look

through stored tubers of Dahlias and Cannas for any signs of rot. Remember to keep well protected from

any frost. Sweet Peas which were sown in pots or trays in the autumn can now be transplanted to one plant

in a 3 ½ inch pot ready for planting out in the spring.

Vegetables

Force Rhubarb now by covering the clump with straw and turning a large pot or bucket over the selected

crown for forcing. All light must be excluded for this purpose. For very early crops you can sow onions,

cauliflowers, leeks and lettuce under glass from now on . Seed Potatoes will soon be freely available and

can be stood up in trays or egg boxes and placed in a light frost free place to chit (produce their

shoots),ready for planting out from March onwards depending on weather conditions.

Fruit

Prune bush and half standard/full standard Apple and Pear trees. If you had a problem with fruit aphids last

year, now would be a good time to spray the trees with Vitax winter wash to kill the overwintering eggs of

this pest.