January Gardening Tips 2026

I’m afraid I am not a great one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I do enjoy planning for the new horticultural year and dreaming up new garden projects. It may be a chilly time of year with days that seem far too short, but there are warmer, brighter months to look forward to. So it is fun choosing seeds and working out what to grow for ornamental purposes or to eat.  

Seed potatoes are already in stock. More on those next month, but it is always worth stocking up early to secure your favourite varieties. On a practical level, it is also the perfect opportunity to clean and sharpen tools, wash pots and seed trays, prepare propagators, service mowers and generally get everything in order for the busy gardening year ahead.

Though our gardens appear to be resting now, a closer look reveals a surprising amount of life and activity. My favourite plant at this time of year is undoubtedly Hamamelis. Its flowers may be understated, but their scent is exquisite. Hellebores (Christmas roses) are blooming generously in my garden, alongside a few optimistic primroses that seem convinced spring has already arrived.

Feeding birds and providing water for wildlife through the colder months always brings a flurry of interest. Plants laden with berries and hips are a magnet for wildlife, and it’s a joy to share our gardens with them. A mixed hedge offers both food and shelter, and quite simply, the greater the diversity of plants in a garden, the greater the diversity of birds, insects, mammals and invertebrates it will support.

When the wider world feels troubled and complex, there is comfort – and hope – to be found in caring for our fellow creatures, however small the space we have to offer. Gardens play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity.

If colder weather does arrive, it’s wise to keep some horticultural fleece to hand to protect less hardy plants.

For those with fish ponds, a simple trick is to float a ball on the surface—though a rubber duck might raise a smile—to help keep an air hole open. If the pond does freeze over, melt the ice gently with warm water rather than breaking it, as shock waves can harm the fish.

I wish you a very Happy New Year, and all good things for 2026.