George’s Personal Gardening Calendar – January
Welcome to Your January Garden Plan
January might seem like a quiet month in the garden, but it’s actually a crucial time for planning, protecting, and preparing for the growing season ahead. While the weather keeps us indoors more often, this is the perfect opportunity to reset systems, tackle indoor plant care, and get your infrastructure ready for spring.
This month, we’re focusing on several key areas: dealing with that indoor pot plant fly problem in your indoor azaleas, getting your hydroponics system properly set up with the right lighting, and developing a comprehensive slug management strategy that works with nature rather than against it. We’ll also be preparing seed patches, maintaining winter protection, and making progress on those important garden projects like the ivy chipping and composting system.
The tasks below are tailored specifically to your garden’s needs, your plant collection, and the projects you’ve got underway. Each section includes practical actions you can take this month and next month, along with links to detailed guidance on GardenAdvice.co.uk when you need to dive deeper into any topic.
Don’t try to tackle everything at once – January and February gives you time to work methodically through these tasks as weather and time allow. The priority jobs (marked clearly) are the ones that will make the biggest difference to your garden’s success this year.
Plant-Specific Tasks
Azaleas (Indoors)
Priority: Immediate
- With the small flies if the John Iness compost has not worked we could try repot into coir compost (not peat-based) to tackle the small fly issue – coir drains better and is less attractive to gnats
- Water sparingly – keep compost only just moist, letting the surface dry between waterings
- Position in your brightest cool room, away from hot radiators
- Hold off strong feeding unless plants are actively pushing new growth
Calendula
- Flowering plants now: Feed with liquid tomato food (high potash content) to boost flowering
- New sowings: Sow under cover (windowsill/propagator) for pest-repellent colour in front beds and seating areas
- Keep seedlings bright and cool to prevent legginess
Aquilegia & Echinacea
- Prepare seed patches rather than direct outdoor sowing
- Create and label areas, improve fine tilth on mild days
- Keep seed trays ready for February/March push
- If sowing now, use pots/trays with protection from wet and slugs
Read more: Creating an Annual Summer Flower Border
Ceanothus
- Don’t hard-prune this month feed with some liquid tomato feed which contains potash to help with flowering
- Inspect for wind-rock, loose ties, and dead stems
- Plan feeding and pruning strategy for later in the season
🐌 Slug & Wildlife Management Strategy
Slug Nematode Application Plan
- Monitor soil temperature: Plan nematode application when soil reaches 5°C consistently
- Reduce winter slug habitat now (wet boards, pots, leaf piles)
- Time application for when you’re ready for heavy planting/sowing
Toad & Hedgehog Habitat
- Keep an eye out for toads – if present, create hiding places and toad houses to encourage natural slug control
- Monitor for hedgehogs – check if they’re active in your garden (another excellent slug predator)
- Consider leaving log piles, stone piles, or purpose-built toad/hedgehog homes
Read more: Controlling Slugs
🥬 Fruit & Vegetable Tasks
Hydroponics System – Lighting & Setup
Priority: High
- Investigate proper grow light systems for indoor hydroponic growing
- Consider simple movable lighting system that can be repositioned as needed
- Clean and sanitise reservoir and lines
- Refresh nutrient solution
- Sow compact, quick crops: leaf lettuce, rocket, spinach/leaf beet (baby leaf), basil, coriander, chives, spring onion, pak choi, mizuna
- Maintain steady temperatures and avoid over-wet media
Peppers & Chilies
- Source new plants from local garden centres or Gardeners kitchen suppliers
- Plan growing positions (hydroponics or greenhouse once repaired)
General Outdoor Tasks
- Plan crop rotations and order seeds
- Check seed viability
- Chit seed potatoes (late January into February)
- Start broad beans under cover in pots (useful if slug pressure is high)
❄️ Winter Protection & Climate Tasks
Storm Preparation
- Secure pots, ties, stakes
- Check fences, trellis, and wires before gales
Frost Protection
- Protect tender container roots by wrapping pots or clustering them together
Watering
- Water only evergreens in pots if compost becomes unusually dry under cover
- Avoid waterlogging outdoors
🏡 Garden Projects
1. Ivy Chipping & Mulch Creation
- Allow ivy to fully dry before chipping
- Use dust mask when chipping
- Apply chipped material as mulch on beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture
- Decide on mulch storage method and implement rodent management
- Tip: Bagged chippings over winter won’t cause rodent issues; compost bays can be lined with fine chicken wire
2. Composting System
- Build or repair compost bays
- Start layering green/brown material
- Keep covered from excess rain
Read more: How to Make Great Compost
3. Mulching & Weed Suppression
- Apply spent mushroom compost plus cardboard when soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged
- Avoid burying crowns of perennials
4. Water Butt Installation
- Install diverter into cast iron downpipes
- Raise butt on blocks for gravity feed
- Add small battery timer
5. Lawn Care
- Plan light work only
- Avoid walking on frosty or waterlogged turf
- Consider lime application planning for slightly acidic soil
6. Glasshouse/Mini-Greenhouse Repairs
Priority: Before heavy sowing
- Strengthen and repair after wind damage
- Make wind-tight, safe, and stable
- Essential before starting peppers, chilies, and other heat-loving crops
📚 Your Garden Resources
Your Online Garden: George’s Garden
Monthly Tasks Hub: What to Do This Month
Plant Care Resources: GardenAdvice Shop
🛒 Shopping List for January
- Coir compost (for azalea repotting)
- Liquid tomato food (for flowering calendulas)
- Slug nematodes (when soil reaches 5°C)
- Grow lights for hydroponics system
- Pepper and chili plants (from garden centre/kitchen garden supplier)
- Materials for toad/hedgehog houses (if wildlife spotted)