Cara’s Top January Picks

January gardening can feel like a daunting challenge. This time is a turning point in the year. Although, it might not feel like it we are on our way to spring!

Cara our assistant plant manager has her top picks for January to bring some cheer into the garden as we look forward to spring.

Hellebores

Perfect winter colour

Hellebores are hardy, elegant winter-flowering perennials known as Christmas or Lenten roses, offering blooms from December to April in shades of white, pink, green, and purple, often speckled or striped.

• Planting: Deeply dig soil and incorporate compost or leaf mold for nutrients.
• Watering: Keep evenly moist but not soggy, especially in pots.
• Feeding: Benefit from compost; avoid excessive fertilizer.
• Pruning: Trim old, messy foliage in late autumn or winter to reveal flowers; allow old flower stems to set seed for more plants.

Witch Hazel

Winter scents & colour

Witch hazel (Hamamelis) is a genus of winter-flowering shrubs/small trees known for their unique, fragrant, spidery yellow, orange, or red flowers on bare branches, providing winter interest with good autumn foliage too.

• Planting: Open, sunny position in the garden. Although witch hazels will tolerate partial shade.
• Watering: Water your young witch hazels regularly until they are fully established (often this is two to three years) and continue to water mature plants during dry periods.
• Feeding: Boost growth of young plants if you apply a top dressing of a general balanced fertiliser, such as Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone, in late winter or early spring.
• Pruning: Witch hazel doesn’t need regular pruning. Remove any dead or  damaged parts of the plant.

Spring Bulbs

Start looking forward to spring

The light at the end of the tunnel, spring! Make sure your garden is bursting with colour come spring time by planting now.

• Location: Sunny spots with well-drained soil are ideal; add grit for heavy soil.
• Depth: General rule is 3 times the bulb’s height, pointy end up.
• Spacing: 2-3 times the bulb’s width apart.
• Watering: Usually unnecessary at planting; water if soil is very dry during growing season.