January and gardening don't typically go hand in hand. It's cold, it's wet and the last thing you probably fancy doing is heading outside and tending to the garden.
But to enjoy your own patch of paradise over the warmer months, there are a number of gardening jobs that need to be done early in the year to reap the benefits when the sun is shining. We've run through some of the seeds you should look to plant at the start of the year to ensure you have beautiful spring blooms in a few months.
As you might expect, winter gardening is a pretty slow process, but with plenty of patience you will see your efforts rewarded. Plants that are started early in a greenhouse will appreciate the added protection and will have had the best start when it comes to putting them in the ground.
Greenhouses can vary hugely in price, at the more expensive end is the likes of the Outsunny 6x8ft Walk-In Polycarbonate Greenhouse from B&Q which is £309.99. But there are much cheaper, albeit more basic options, out there like the McGregor Walk In Greenhouse, which is a much more budget-friendly £50 at Argos.
Seeds to plant in January
The Express reports that there are lots of flowers that can be planted this month to get ahead of the game and ensure your garden is filled with colours and textures later in the year.
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Snapdragons are vibrant, old-fashioned cottage garden plants that can be sown now. Get the seeds going in your greenhouse and then move them into your garden beds in early spring.
Some seeds are able to withstand the colder temperatures of autumn and winter (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Snapdragons are loved by bees and tend to grow to different heights with a variety of bright colours on offer. These classic plants will typically flower from June to October once they have been planted outside.
Seeds can be bought from as little as £1.99 on Amazon.
Other flowers that can be planted now include:
- Begonias - £3.69 on Amazon
- Geraniums - £2.89 on Amazon
- Dianthus - £2.59 on Amazon
- Lobelias - £3.29 on Amazon
- Sweet Peas - £5.95 on Amazon
If you don't tend to have much luck growing your own plants then a range of mature plants can be bought from the likes of Gardening Express which currently has up to 70% off in its winter sale.
Jobs to do at the start of the year
As well as planting seeds there are a number of general maintenance jobs to crack on with now. One of main ones is to start pruning fruit trees like apples and pears.
The RHS advises you should "aim to take between 10 to 20 percent of the overall canopy off in any one winter". The RHS also says gardeners should tackle some of the more mundane tasks like cleaning greenhouses to improve the growing environment for plants, helping them thrive into the spring and summer months.
The RHS added: "If your lawn suffers dieback from treading during the wet, muddy season, then consider laying stepping stones through it to allow easy access across it without causing damage."
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