Paraic’s Tips For Your Garden In January

Posted by Paraic Horkan

A fresh start to the gardening year

Happy New Year to all our gardening friends. It’s Paraic here from Horkans Garden Centre in Castlebar, Galway and Sligo, wishing you a healthy, happy and productive year ahead.
January is a quieter month in the garden, but it’s an important one. It’s a time for planning, preparation and making a few smart choices now that will pay off later in the year. Even on cold winter days, there’s plenty you can do to set yourself up for success.
This guide is here to help you know what’s worth doing now, what’s better left for later, and which plants can bring colour and interest to your garden this month.

Garden jobs for January

Don’t rush to tidy frost damage

After recent cold spells, you may notice leaves or branches that look damaged by frost. It’s best not to cut these back just yet. Wait until later in spring, usually April or even May, when the risk of frost has fully passed. This allows you to remove all winter damage together and helps plants recover strongly.
For now, that damaged growth can actually help protect the plant beneath.

Use this time to get organised

While outdoor work is limited, January is ideal for the jobs that make spring easier:

Clean and sharpen your tools
Tidy and organise your potting shed or greenhouse
Check seed supplies and plan what you want to grow

A bit of preparation now saves a lot of time when the busy growing season arrives.

Be ready for further frosts

Winter isn’t finished yet. Keep fleece, horticultural fabric or even old sheets handy so you can protect tender plants or containers if temperatures drop again. A simple step like this can prevent unnecessary damage.

Plants to focus on this month

Seed potatoes

January is the time to start choosing your seed potatoes. Popular varieties always sell quickly, so selecting early means you won’t miss out.
This year, we’re highlighting Irish Gold and Kelly. Both are reliable performers, well suited to Irish gardens, and produce great results in the kitchen.
Seed potatoes can be bought now and stored in a cool, dry place until planting time later in the season.

Winter flowering climbers

If your garden feels bare at this time of year, winter flowering climbers are a great way to add interest and colour.
Clematis Winter Beauty and Winter Jasmine are excellent choices. They brighten walls, fences and trellises when little else is in flower, and they help lift the look of the garden during winter.
Planting them now allows roots to establish before spring growth begins.

Potted spring flowering bulbs

If you didn’t plant bulbs last autumn, potted spring flowering bulbs are the perfect solution.
Daffodils, crocus and hyacinths in pots bring one of the first signs of spring and are ideal for patios, doorways and windowsills.

Practical gardening tips for January

Avoid working soil when it’s frozen or very wet, as this can damage its structure
Group containers together in sheltered spots to protect roots from cold
Check ties, stakes and supports after windy weather

Looking after garden birds

Winter is a demanding time for birds and wildlife. Regular feeding helps them through periods when natural food is scarce.
Use high energy bird feed and keep feeders topped up, especially in the morning. Clean feeders regularly to keep birds healthy.
Our Wild Bird range offers great value this month, with feeds chosen to support garden birds through winter.