The January Garden
With thanks to all at Landscape Restoration who helped with plant details in my novel The Neglected Garden.
Galanthus (Snowdrop) - A cheerful sight in the depths of winter, snowdrops are easy to grow in swathes under trees, in lawns or flower borders. They multiply on their own and can be dug up, divided and transplanted as soon as the flowers have finished. There are many different varieties and it’s fun to collect them.
Another fragrant winter flowering shrub is Sarcocca hookeriana var. The variety digyna has a great perfume. They are compact shrubs with leathery leaves that prefer fairly fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Will grow to about 1.5 metres in height so useful for smaller gardens.
Mahonia japonica flowers in winter, even on Christmas day. This shrub has dark green leathery leaves with prickly spines. It carries sprays of cheerful yellow flowers from late autumn onwards. Grows to at least 1.5 metres but takes ten to twenty years to reach its full height. Plant in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade and protect from cold winds.
A hen in the garden owned by Landscape Restoration
Iris reticulata - A vivid splash of bright blue and yellow. A dwarf iris that bears fragrant early flowers and is ideal for planting in a rockery or at the front of borders. You can also grow it in a pot in a greenhouse or conservatory or in a container on the patio. This plant likes well-drained neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Easy to grow. Propagate by lifting and separating the bulbs in early Autumn.
Things to do in the garden in January
Finish planting roses as long as the ground isn’t too wet or sticky.
Fork over the soil in flower borders and bury the weeds.
Clear away leaves and order spring plants and vegetable/flower/herb seeds.
Bring in bulbs for indoor flowering and replant outside those that have finished.
Wash empty pots and containers. Get garden implements repaired or sharpened if necessary.
Chimonanthus praecox has a wonderful perfume in the winter garden. It will grow up to at least 2.5 metres against a wall and likes a sheltered position in full sun. Useful for informal gardens, city and courtyard gardens and larger flower and shrub borders.
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ is a very fragrant evergreen or semi-evergreen bushy shrub with leathery leaves and purple-pink and white flowers that grow in clusters in late winter. The flowers are followed by black berries. Highly toxic if eaten! This Daphne likes fertile, moist but well-drained soil and will grow up to two and a half metres in height. Plant in a sheltered position as it isn’t completely hardy. It likes neutral or alkaline soil.
Witch Hazel, or Hamamelis mollis, bears fragrant yellow to red flowers in mid-winter to early spring. It is a deciduous shrub that grows from 2.5 metres to 4 metres. Witch Hazel likes a moist and neutral to acid soil (not tolerant to lime). Add a mulch to keep moisture in and grow away from cold winds. A good shrub for informal country gardens or city courtyards with shelter.
Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose, comes in a variety of shades from deep wine to blush pink to creamy or pure white. The plants form clumps with elegant flowers that can be cut and floated in a shallow bowl of water with candles for a special dinner table display.
Helleborus niger likes moist fertile soils and prefers partial shade but will tolerate sun. You often see them growing in clumps under trees or shrubs. They need shelter from cold winds and do well if given a mulch in autumn.
The Neglected Garden - a page-turner seeded with mystery and suspense. More info here.
Ducks by the pond in the garden owned by Landscape Restoration