Please add image or text logo
Here is our monthly round-up of news, tips, and ideas to make the most of your garden this January!
January tends to be a quiet month in the garden, all about maintenance, looking after wildlife, and protecting your garden from the worst of the weather.
With the days starting to get longer again, this month is the ideal time to start planning out your garden projects for the coming year. We’re looking forward to helping you bring your ideas to life in 2026!
After taking a break over the Christmas period, our Midgley centre will be reopening on the 3rd of January at 8:30am, and our Brigg Centre will be reopening on the 5th of January at 8:00am.
We’re excited to welcome you back, and we look forward to helping you with all your projects this year!
Keeping your garden maintained during the winter will ensure it is well prepared for spring and summer, so here are some important garden jobs for December:
• Prep your greenhouse – Ventilate your greenhouse on sunny days to prevent humidity building up – you should also tidy up broken pots or old composts to avoid unwanted critters finding a place to hide!
• Tool maintenance – January is the ideal time to give your lawn mower a basic service or take it to a dealer for maintenance while it’s not in use. It’s also a great time to clean and sharpen your tools, including hoes, secateurs and shears.
• Spruce up your outdoor space – To avoid slipping and to keep them looking their best, remove wet leaves, algae and moss from paths, patios, decking and steps.
• Plan ahead – January is the best time to plan for the months ahead and order plants and flowers that will best contribute to your vision. Creating a sowing schedule is also beneficial to making sure you don’t overwhelm yourself or your garden by over-planting seeds once they arrive! Visit us in-store to view our range of seeds.
• Keep pruning – Roses, wisteria, honeysuckle, and rhododendrons can all be pruned in January to encourage healthy spring growth. Apple and pear trees will also benefit from having dead, damaged and congested branches removed.
• Take care of birds – Top up bird baths with fresh water daily and melt ice with warm water on frosty days.
• Grow perennials from seed – For a summer display, sow some hardy perennials now, such as delphiniums, agastache and oenothera.
• Clean gutters – Keep gutters and downpipes clear, particularly to ensure that clean rainwater is not interrupted from flowing into water butts.
• Inspect stored produce – If you are storing any fruit and vegetables from your last harvest, check for any that are soft or diseased and get rid of them.
Visit either of our centres to pick up essential gardening tools!
Take the stress out of Christmas Tree disposal and let The Kirkwood Hospice collect your tree this January.
From the 8th-14th of January, for a small donation, Kirkwood’s team of volunteers will collect your tree from outside your home and recycle it for you. It saves you time and is great for the environment too!
Read more here.
The Big Garden Birdwatch will be taking place this month, from the 23rd to the 25th of January 2026 – the birdwatch provides a vital insight into the population of the UK’s garden birds, helping to determine the species that are thriving and those that aren’t.
Over 590,000 people across the UK took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch last year, with 9.1 million birds counted in total! Once again, House Sparrows were spotted the most, with 1,211,260 counted over the Birdwatch weekend.
We can help you provide safety and sanctuary for your garden wildlife with our animal care range. Our range of bird tables, bird baths, RSPB-approved bird feeds, handmade nesting boxes and more are available online and in-store!
Click here to take part in the Birdwatch!
• Bare-root trees and bushes – Bare-root ornamental trees, roses, shrubs and hedging can all be planted now if the ground isn’t frozen.
• Winter salads – Raise plants from seed under cover, in a bright, well-ventilated spot such as a cold frame, conservatory, or greenhouse, for salad leaves all year round.
• Onions – To provide them with the longest growing season possible, sow onion seeds in modules filled with fresh compost and keep them indoors at a temperature of at least 10°C. Transplant them outdoors in March or April.
• Garlic – Garlic can be planted outdoors in January, but it is best kept in a greenhouse or a cold frame if it is frosty. Plant 3-10cm deep and 15cm apart. Harvest between June and August.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! This trend is all about embracing the imperfections in your garden, celebrating mistakes as part of its story and valuing unexpected outcomes over trying to control every detail. Gardeners are increasingly choosing low-maintenance plants and exploring creative DIY projects – favouring personality over perfection.
With unpredictable weather shifts, gardeners are now embracing climate-smart, resilient planting strategies that are both productive and beautiful. Hardy edible plants, companion planting and water saving techniques are prioritised alongside artistic structures and vibrant blooms. Unique options like kiwi, persimmon, figs and space saving options like espalier peaches are becoming increasingly popular!
Inspired by Japanese bento boxes, this trend is about creating compact, intentional garden “cells” or zones – even within a small space. Planters or raised beds are arranged with purpose. This curated style creates a sense of calm in a garden, a less chaotic way of planting even when space is limited.
Both our centres stock ready to burn, kiln-dried firewood logs, as well as smokeless coal.
Stock up now and take advantage of our three hot offers on firewood – available from Brigg and Midgley. Call now to arrange your delivery*!
Our firewood centre at Midgley also stocks products such as log stores and fireside accessories – discover our full firewood range here.
Click here to view our helpful guide on choosing the right firewood logs for you.
*to our normal delivery zones
• Cauliflower – About two weeks after blanching, or covering the heads, your cauliflower will be ready to harvest. Harvest when the heads are at least 15cm across, but prior to the flower starting to separate.
• Leeks – Harvest just before you plan to use them, as leeks do not store well. Wash carefully to remove any soil trapped between the leaves.
• Winter cabbages – Provided they are netted to provide protection from birds, winter cabbages can be left in the ground until required.
• Kale – When the leaves reach 20cm, harvest kale and discard the thick central vein.
RHS Gardening Month by Month: What to Do When in the Garden by DK Books and Alice Pattullo (Illustrations)
Your Gardening Year is the book every gardener should have as they embark on a new year of planting, sowing, pruning, and growing. This easy-to-use guide is packed with essential tasks and top tips for every month of the year, with sections on general garden care, growing fruit and veg, and getting the best out of containers.
Available from Amazon here.
“No one ever regarded the first of January with indifference.”
– Charles Lamb
Sales and advice 
01924 830055
