January To Do List
1. Dormant-Season Tasks
These are perfect for January when plants are still mostly sleeping:
✅ Spray dormant oil (and lime sulfur)
Apply dormant oil to kill overwintering pests (mites, scales, aphids) on deciduous trees, shrubs and roses before buds break. Best done on a dry, frost-free day with mild temps (≥ ~5 °C) and no rain forecast for a couple of days.
✅ Prune while dormant
Trim fruit trees, grapevines, shrubs, dead wood and hedges — pruning now improves shape, airflow, and future blooms/fruit.
✅ Mulch beds (weather permitting)
Add a layer of compost, bark chips or leaf mold to protect soil, conserve moisture, and suppress weeds — but only if the ground isn’t frozen or soggy.
🌿 2. Clean, Protect & Organize
Even when it’s cold, there are prepping and maintenance jobs you can do:
🛠 Tool care
- Sharpen and clean tools
- Apply light oil to hand tools to prevent rust
- Organize winter covers, frost cloths and garden ties
These small tasks make spring easier and protect your gear.
🐦 Help wildlife
- Fill bird feeders and keep fresh water available — wild birds need extra energy now.
🍂 Tidy up beds
- Remove debris and fallen leaves from beds to reduce disease harbouring
- Rake leaves off lawns before they smother grass.
🪴 3. Planting & Planning
January is still early but you can start some things now:
🌳 Bare-root planting
- Bare-root trees and shrubs can be planted while dormant if soil isn’t frozen or oversaturated.
📅 Plan your season
- Go through seed catalogs, sketch garden layouts, and order what you need now.
🌱 Indoor seed starts
- Start seeds indoors under lights for long-season crops (salad greens, onions & leeks, herbs) if you’re eager.
(Just avoid starting too early; short winter days slow growth.)
🌸 4. Watch & Protect
Even if you can’t dig much yet:
☀ Check for early signs of spring
- Bulbs like snowdrops or hellebores might begin to poke through — watch gently.
❄ Safeguard plants
- Protect tender plants from severe frost with fleece or burlap when cold snaps hit.