Practical gardening advice for UK gardens
What to do this month

January gardening jobs

January is often the quietest month in UK gardens, but there is still plenty worth doing when conditions allow. Frost, saturated soil, strong winds and occasional snow can limit outdoor work, while gardens in milder coastal and southern areas may remain workable for much of the month.

The priority is to protect plants and soil rather than forcing jobs in poor conditions. Dormant trees and fruit can be planted and pruned during suitable weather, greenhouses can be prepared for the growing season, and early sowing can begin indoors or under cover. It is also a useful time to check stored plants, plan vegetable rotations and prepare for the busier weeks ahead.

UK conditions vary. Adjust timings for your local weather, soil and exposure.

Key gardening jobs

  • Clean greenhouse glazing, staging, pots and seed trays before spring propagation begins.
  • Check fleece, cloches and other winter protection after storms and refasten anything that has come loose.
  • Firm newly planted trees and shrubs back into the soil if frost or strong winds have lifted their roots.
  • Remove fallen leaves from alpines and low growing plants where wet debris could cause rotting.
  • Insulate outdoor taps and drain unused irrigation equipment to reduce the risk of frost damage.
  • Keep bird feeders clean and provide fresh water, especially during prolonged freezing weather.
  • Avoid walking on frosted lawns or saturated soil where footsteps could damage grass or compact the ground.
  • Plan vegetable crop rotations and check seed supplies before the main spring sowing period begins.

What to sow and plant

  • Sow onion seed indoors with gentle warmth for an early start to the growing season.
  • Sow early lettuce and other hardy salad crops under cover in a greenhouse or cold frame.
  • Sow broad beans in pots under cover in mild areas for planting out once conditions improve.
  • Sow sweet peas under cover in deep pots or root trainers where they can grow in cool, bright conditions.
  • Plant bare root deciduous trees, shrubs and hedging outdoors whenever the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
  • Plant bare root fruit trees and bushes outdoors while they remain dormant and the soil is workable.
  • Plant bare root roses outdoors during suitable weather, avoiding ground where roses have recently grown where possible.
  • Plant garlic outdoors in well drained soil during mild spells if autumn planting was not possible.

What to prune and harvest

  • Winter prune established apple and pear trees while they are dormant, removing dead, damaged and congested growth first.
  • Prune red currants, white currants and gooseberries to maintain an open framework and productive fruiting spurs.
  • Cut established autumn fruiting raspberry canes down to ground level before new growth begins.
  • Prune wisteria by shortening the side shoots produced last summer to two or three buds.
  • Cut back ornamental grasses that are beginning to collapse, leaving those still providing useful winter structure where practical.
  • Harvest leeks as required, lifting them carefully when the ground is not frozen.
  • Harvest parsnips during workable weather, leaving sound roots in the soil where drainage is good.
  • Harvest Brussels sprouts, winter cabbage and kale regularly and remove damaged or yellowing leaves.

Problems to watch

  • Watch vulnerable plants and containers for frost damage during prolonged cold spells.
  • Check heavy soils, lawns and containers for waterlogging after persistent winter rain.
  • Inspect newly planted trees and shrubs for wind rock or roots exposed by frost heave.
  • Remove excessive snow from vulnerable evergreen shrubs and greenhouse roofs before its weight causes damage.
  • Watch plants under glass for grey mould where cool temperatures and high humidity encourage infection.
  • Check stored dahlia, canna and begonia tubers regularly and remove any showing signs of rot.
  • Protect winter brassicas with secure netting if pigeons begin stripping the foliage.
  • Check sheds, stores and propagation areas for mouse damage to seed, bulbs and stored produce.
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