It might feel as if warmer days are a long way off, but in fact, spring is just around the corner. In two months, the days will be longer, and flowers will start to bloom.
If you want to make sure that your garden starts to look its best in the spring months, then there are three things you need to get planted right now. Patrick Martin, horticulture expert at Frantoio Grove, a California olive farm, said that when it comes to spring flowers, timing is everything. He said: “January tends to get overlooked as a planting month, but it’s actually one of the best times to prepare for spring.”
His first tip is to plant your spring bulbs. These can be potted or put straight in the ground as long as it isn’t frozen solid. Patrick said crocus, tulips, daffodils and snowdrops can all be planted now, as they need a period of cold to develop.
He said: “If your soil is workable, get these bulbs in the ground as soon as possible.
“They’ll establish roots during the cold months and be ready to push through the soil as soon as temperatures warm up. If the ground is too frozen or waterlogged, you can plant them in containers and keep them in a sheltered spot outdoors.”
If you want early spring and summer flowers, it’s a good idea to start indoors in January.
According to Patrick, snapdragons, sweet peas, begonias and pansies will all benefit from being planted indoors first. He said: “Indoor seed starting is one of the most cost-effective ways to fill your garden with colour.
“By beginning now, you’re giving these plants months to grow strong before they face outdoor conditions. Place your seed trays on a sunny windowsill where they’ll get plenty of warmth and light.”
The third gardening task in January is planting bare-root hedges and shrubs.
Climbing roses, hydrangeas, and hedging species establish themselves best when planted before they break dormancy in spring. Patrick said: “Bare-root planting might seem intimidating, but it’s actually the healthiest way to introduce new shrubs to your garden.
“These plants are dormant, so they’re not stressed by transplanting. Once they wake up in spring, they’ll have strong roots already in place and will grow much faster than plants added later in the season.”
Make sure you keep your plants’ roots moist and get them into the soil as soon as you can after purchasing them.
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