Often the coldest month, January might be the middle of winter but as the days lengthen the garden commences to show shoots of growth as the promise of spring season fast approaches.
Now is a great time to plan for the coming gardening year and to order seeds and plants.
Enjoy the fresh air, on dry sunny days, and check your winter protection, stakes, ties and supports are still working following any period of severe weather.
Ensure you leave out food for birds and garden areas should remain uncut, a little longer, to provide shelter for wildlife in your garden.
Top tips to prepare your garden in January
Recycle your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch
Clean pots and greenhouses ready for the forthcoming spring season
Dig over any vacant plots that have not been dug already
Disperse worm casts in lawns
Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out
Prune apple and pear trees
Start forcing rhubarb
Plan your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season
Keep putting out food and water for hungry birds
Make a polythene shelter for outdoor peaches and nectarines, to protect against peach leaf curl
