Take photos of your garden including focal points from key locations and repeat every month to build up a visual diary of your garden over the year. This really helps when you want to re-plan an area and recall exactly what grows within it at any one time. Beloved plants are rediscovered, whilst others can be evaluated more pragmatically in terms of the value they offer. It also ensures that a rogue 'red' flower does not appear in your new carefully considered 'moonlight' bed, unless of course you want it there.

Watch the Weather

January can be a tricky month with sudden rises and falls in temperature often within a day or two. Look ahead at the forecast for frost and fleece or move your more tender plants into a sheltered location accordingly. Plants that dislike periods of winter wet such as GAURA and VERBENA and which are in pots can be moved to a cold frame, greenhouse or garage for protection over winter.

Take Care of your Soil

Garden soil can become easily waterlogged in January with little chance to dry out before the next shower or snow fall. If you really need to access your garden beds be very careful not to compact the soil as this leads to further drainage and waterlogging problems affecting the health of plants. It is best to tread on planks of wood carefully laid across the soil for access as these will spread your weight. A little sand or grit sprinkled on their surface will help stop you slipping on them.

Armchair Research

If it is pouring down outside, grab a cuppa and sit down with your computer or tablet plus plant catalogues and have a good mooch through them for inspiration or that plant that you have been looking for for years. It is amazing what you may find and inspiration can strike at any time. If you can place orders this month, as it is often first come, first served.

Have a Good Clear Out and Clean

Now is the time to check all your equipment, see what is garden worthy still and what could be rehomed/repurposed. Clean everything, oil sharpened blades, waterproof your boots, wash and stack your pots. Clean out and disinfect all the surfaces within your greenhouse or potting shed if you have not already done so, to give your seedlings, cuttings and plants a more hygienic environment to prosper in this year. Pay special attention to cleaning the glass to maximise light levels within and any corners where dirt can gather and bacteria thrive. Replace any cracked glazing or plug up any gaps to prevent unwanted draughts that will cause the temperature to drop inside.

Book an Online Course

Brand New Year - Good intentions! Now is a good time to find and book yourself onto that course that you have wanted to do for ages. Online learning continues to expand and enhance horticultural education. You can study for RHS qualifications through online providers or sign up to listen to podcasts and YouTube videos provided by leading horticulturalists. Alternatively check out websites such as The Garden Museum for their series of films on a range of garden and horticultural subjects.