What to do in the garden in January?

Winter is not necessarily synonymous with freezing crops and abandoning the vegetable garden. There are plenty of things to do to prepare for the return of spring and have a good harvest on sunny days, so what to do in the garden in January?

Discover how to maintain your garden month after month with our gardener’s calendar.

What to do in my garden during the month of January?

Prepare your soil before spring

You will need a dry day for this, when the soil is not too wet. The ideal is to do it just before a strong jelly, to get the maximum results of your efforts!

Just as farmers choose a frost morning to get the plow out, we gardeners can use the action of frost to break the soil we want to grow in the spring.

Technical:

Just flip the soil creating large clumps of soil. The action of frost and thaw on the soil moisture breaks these large clods into smaller ones, doing the hard work for us!

Digging our vegetable gardens and flower beds exposes the roots of weeds so we can pull them out. It also allows birds to eat the larvae of many garden parasites that hide below the surface. This activity aerates texture, breaking up compact areas.

This makes it easier to mix organic matter, create better drainage and allow plants to expand their root system.

Thus, a few hours well spent in winter will bear fruit throughout the year and should reduce pest problems and lead to better crops.

Feeding birds in winter

At this time of year, there is very little natural food for our feathered friends.

For them to stay healthy during this cold season, it is important to frequently put food and water at their disposal. This means that they can have a good meal when they spend every day.

Hang large bird feeders that can be filled once a week. The birds will be well stocked with nuts and seeds.

Feeding birds in winter is a good way to save wildlife!

Grease balls for birds

An even better option is to make your own fat balls. Mix 2 parts of bird seeds and 1 part of lard evenly. Then put them in shape or push them into old yogurt jars, place a string in the middle and hang them.

You can also buy fat balls already made.

Added fat helps birds stay warm during colder periods, when they would otherwise lose weight.

Although they find a sheltered place to perch and inflate their feathers, garden birds use the most energy to produce heat when the temperature drops below zero.

And in the vegetable garden in January? We harvest winter vegetables!

In January we can still have cabbages, leeks, endives, scaroles, spinach to pick. There are also root vegetables such as parsnips or Jerusalem artichokes, perfect for soups that warm up after exercise!

Lamb’s feet should be covered with small tunnels or protective bells in cold weather, as should leeks and perennials (they are easily found in gardening).

Sow your garden in January

You can plant spring salads, chicory, watercress, as well as some radish and carrot seedlings. We think of grain vegetables like peas and beans.

Finally, aromatic herbs find their place in the garden in January such as chives, chervil, fragrant asperul, but also garlic and onion.

Garden maintenance work in January

To prepare the vegetable garden for planting, you have to enrich the soil. You can dig the soil and put manure. Spreading wood ash from your fireplace will also provide nutrients.

Finally, add the fall leaves to your compost to make it grow.

The garden soil can be enriched with mustard and phacelia that you just mowed.

You can repair your fences and your stakes that will hold the tomatoes in summer.

Tree maintenance

Tree pruning and pruning can be done in January. You can also plant fruit trees, and replant your Christmas tree (if you bought it with its roots).

The maintenance of the garden in January is an important task to find a beautiful garden in spring, then at work!

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