There’s something wonderfully hopeful about the start of a new year. The garden may be sleeping under a blanket of frost, but for me, January is all about possibility. This year, I’m making a resolution: to plan ahead, to be intentional, and to resist those impulse plant buys that always seem like a good idea at the time!

January is one of the quietest months in the garden. With short days and cold ground, most gardens are in a peaceful pause. It’s the perfect moment to step back and reflect. I like to think of it as the gardener’s version of spring cleaning, taking stock of last year’s planting and shopping choices while reflecting on my many successes and challenges. Which plants thrived beyond expectation? Which areas struggled? Asking these questions helps me fine-tune my approach for the coming season—because every year the garden teaches us something new.

Creating a planting calendar is a great way to stay focused and save money when shopping for plants in the months ahead. It helps to research which plants you’d like to grow and whether they’ll suit your garden’s conditions and positioning. Keep an eye on what’s current in store and chat to your local garden centre plants team for assistance with selecting the right ones for your garden.

This is also the perfect time to purchase seeds, bulbs and other supplies. Popular varieties can sell out quickly, so acting early ensures you get your chosen selections. One of my personal goals this year is to decide on my spring projects — and select my summer bulbs — earlier than I did last year. I bought bulbs later than planned and ended up with haphazard planting and colour combinations I hadn’t intended.

I especially love gladioli and lilies for stylish summer colour in containers. They also make wonderful cut flowers, so I always plant more than I think I’ll need. Dahlia bulbs bring endless late summer colour and can add that ‘wow factor’ to the garden. I absolutely love the spectacular begonia flowers for hanging baskets, buy these bulbs early as they don’t last long in store.

Summer bulbs are available from mid-January, but make sure to store them in a frost-free, cool, dry place until planting, following the instructions on the pack.

Here’s to a more mindful, well-planned gardening year ahead — with regular visits to your local garden centre you will always find plants in colour, be it flowers or wonderful foliage.

Plan now for late summer Dahlias. (Image: Cara MacCallum)

Jobs for the January Garden

· Roses and fruit trees may be pruned now

· Bare root hedging plants can be planted now provided the ground isn’t frozen.

· Remove the foliage from hellebores to allow emerging flower buds to shine.

· Clear leaves from borders – wet leaves on top of perennials can cause rot.

· Prune soft fruit such as gooseberries, black and redcurrants.

· Gently remove any fallen leaves from emerging spring bulbs to ensure they get enough sunlight.

· Net brassicas such as purple sprouting broccoli against pigeons.

· Cover empty raised vegetable beds with plenty of compost then a layer of cardboard weighed down with some stones to keep weeds at bay.

· Top up bird feeders with high-energy foods like seeds, nuts and suet balls, and ensure a supply of fresh water.

· Sow hardy annuals such as Cerinthe and Ammi in modules in the greenhouse. Antirrhinums can also be sown now.

· Check any stored Dahlia tubers and remove any that show signs of rot.

· If your greenhouse is heated, tomatoes can be sown.

· Houseplants should be checked regularly for pest and disease and treated accordingly.