Mulching, Pruning and Crop Rotation - Your January Gardening Tips
By Alicia Paaso - Gardenscape Sales Team/RHS Level 3 Horticulturalist 
Happy New Year! We hope that you’re feeling energised and ready to start this year’s gardening tasks. Now is the perfect time to get organised and plan your garden for the exciting months ahead. Although it has been a cold start to the month, the days are gradually getting longer, and it won’t be long until the gardens begin to reawaken. January gardening focuses on garden maintenance, frost protection, and planning. So, put on a few layers of warm clothing, and let’s get started!
January is a cold month with numerous frosty mornings, so it's sensible to keep an eye out for frost damage as some less hardy plants may need extra protection during cold spells. Signs of frost damage to look out for are wilting, brown patches, and scorching. Whilst checking, it is also a good idea to inspect any plant support and stakes that might have been damaged during the winter months as they may need replacing. One of the most important things to remember is to avoid walking on the lawn if it's frosty. Doing so could damage the lawn which will take weeks to recover. After you have finished your outdoor checks, don’t forget to keep yourself warm this winter too. You can keep your fireplace going with a bulk bag of our logs. Throughout January, we are offering a free net of kindling with your order when you purchase a bulk bag of logs.
Deciduous trees and shrubs are dormant in this month it's ideal for pruning and maintenance. Apple and pear trees particularly benefit from being pruned this month. You should aim to cut between ten to twenty percent of the old growth, making sure to prune branches evenly around the crown to keep it balanced. Whilst you’re pruning, remove any rotten fruit that is still attached to the branches as this will help prevent the spread of brown rot. This dormant period also makes the perfect opportunity to move any deciduous shrubs that didn’t thrive in their current spot last year. Once moved, add a generous layer of mulch on top to protect the disturbed roots from the cold.
The beginning of the new year is a great time to plan the crop rotation for your vegetable patches. Crop rotation is a highly effective way to make the most of the soil’s available nutrients while preventing crop specific soil-borne diseases and pests. By utilising the available nutrients, you reduce the need for fertiliser, which is both cost effective and kind to the environment. For example, planting legumes with nitrogen fixing nodules will fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. The following year, you can plant leafy vegetables such as brassicas in that same spot, as they require high levels of nitrogen for healthy growth. Don’t forget to add garden lime to where the brassicas will grow to prevent club root disease.
Finally, now is the time to start preparing summer blooms for beautiful displays come summer. Sweet peas can be sown indoors to have them ready to plant out around April time. Simply sow them in pots or seed trays using a Multipurpose compost or Peat Free Seeding Compost Mix. Other hardy annuals like ammi and cornflowers can also be sown in seed trays now, giving you a headstart for early flowers.
Enjoy your January gardening!