It's January, the start of a new year and a fresh start for your garden. This month is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for a blooming and productive year ahead. Here at Hilltop Garden Centre, we’re passionate about helping you make the most of your garden, no matter the the time of year, so whether you’re looking for advice on what to grow and when, protecting tender plants, or getting started with growing your own vegetables, we’ve got you covered. Let’s kick the new year off with a few essential gardening tips for this month.
Ideas for planting Sarcococca (Sweet Box)
This January, Sarcococca, also known as Sweet Box, is our plant of the month and we'd like to share some planting ideas to help you make the most of this stunning shrub. This evergreen beauty is perfect for adding winter interest to your garden: its glossy green leaves and tiny, highly fragrant white flowers bloom throughout the colder months, making it a star performer when little else is in flower.
Here are some planting ideas to help you make the most of this versatile shrub:
1. Bring life to shady areas
Sarcococca thrives in shady areas, making it an excellent choice for planting along north-facing walls or under the canopy of larger trees. Pair it with ferns, hellebores, and hostas for a lush, woodland-inspired border and mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect the roots from frost.
2. Create a container display
Sweet Box performs well in pots, making it ideal for patios or balconies. Choose a decorative container, and plant it with Sarcococca surrounded by seasonal interest plants like cyclamen or ivy. Use our Rocket Gro Multi-purpose Compost with added John Innes for long-lasting nutrients and stability.
3. Plant near a doorway
Place Sarcococca near doorways or pathways to enjoy its sweet fragrance in winter. Combine it with snowdrops or early daffodils to create a welcoming and fragrant entrance to your home.
4. Create a hedge
For a low-growing hedge plant Sarcococca in rows along pathways or driveways. Its dense foliage suppresses weeds, while its sweet-scented flowers add seasonal interest.
5. Plant a shrubbery
Incorporate Sarcococca into mixed shrub beds for year-round greenery and winter blooms. It pairs beautifully with larger evergreens like camellias and viburnums, as well as flowering shrubs like daphne or mahonia.
6. Plant with bulbs
Plant Sarcococca with spring bulbs such as crocus, snowdrops, or muscari for a layered look. The bulbs will add pops of colour as the shrub’s flowers fade, extending seasonal interest.
Planting Tips:
You can plant Sarcococca this month, providing the ground isn't frozen.
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil. Add compost or organic matter to improve poor soil.
- Light: Grows best in partial to full shade, though it can tolerate some sun.
- Spacing: Allow about 60cm (2ft) between plants for good air circulation and growth.
- Care: Water well during the first year and mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Get Ready to Grow Your Own Veg!
January is the perfect time to prepare for a fruitful year of homegrown vegetables. Start by planning your vegetable patch and deciding what you’d like to grow. Popular choices with our customers include carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and beans, but we always recommend to grow veg that you will actually eat! If you grew your own veg last season, start by clearing your beds of any leftover plant matter from last season and dig in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil.
Now’s also a great time to check your tools and stock up on essentials like seed trays, propagators, and compost designed specifically for growing veg from seeds. If you’re short on space in your garden, we highly recommend installing raised planters - they're a fantastic option especially if you have mobility issues - and at Hilltop Garden Centre, we have everything you need to get started, from seeds to potting benches. Visit us in-store to find the perfect tools and supplies to kick off your vegetable-growing journey.
Get Ready to Chit Seed Potatoes and Propagate Seeds
January is the ideal time to get prepared for chitting seed potatoes next month. Collect used egg boxes as these are ideal for getting potatoes going. When the time comes next month, you can place seed potatoes in a cool, light-filled area, such as a windowsill, with the ‘eyes’ facing upwards. This encourages strong sprouts and sets you up for a successful harvest later in the year. We have a wide selection of seed potatoes just arrived at Hilltop Garden Centre, so please pop in and ask our knowledgeable team for their recommendations if you're not sure which variety to plant, or if you're not even sure where to begin.
If you’re keen to get a head start on your flowers and vegetables, propagating seeds indoors is the way to go. Invest in good-quality propagators and seed trays to create the perfect environment for germination. We recommend sowing lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage seeds using seed and cutting compost for optimal results, as it’s finely textured and nutrient-rich - our organic Rocket Gro Seed & Cutting Compost with added John Innes is ideal. A potting bench can make the process easier and more enjoyable by keeping your soils and trays organised and at a comfortable height for working. Visit our Essex garden centre for all you need to grow your own.
Protect Tender Plants with Warming Fleece
Frosty nights can be tough on tender plants, but with a little care, you can keep them safe and thriving. Garden fleece is an affordable and effective way to protect delicate plants like fuchsias, pelargoniums, and young shrubs from the harsh winter weather. Simply drape the fleece over the plants, securing it with pegs or stones to keep it in place.
For potted plants, consider moving them to a sheltered spot and use our fleece covers to protect them from damage by frost. These ready-made covers simply pop over pots and you can secure them at the base using the drawstring. Our team at Hilltop Garden Centre in Clacton-on-Sea is happy to advise you on the best ways to protect all of your plants this winter so please pop in for advice by speaking to our plants expert Carmel if you need any help.
Here are additional gardening tips and jobs for January:
1. Prune Apple and Pear Trees
January is the perfect time to prune apple and pear trees while they are dormant. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches to improve airflow and encourage healthy fruit production. Aim for an open structure to allow sunlight to penetrate the canopy.
2. Clean Greenhouses and Tools
Take advantage of the quieter gardening season to clean and disinfect greenhouses. Remove algae, moss, and grime from glass panes to maximise light. Sharpen and oil garden tools to prepare for the busy spring months - 'The Sharpener' will be back at Hilltop on Saturday 15th February if you'd like to take advantage of a professional cleaning and sharpening service for your gardening tools.
3. Recycle Christmas Trees
If you had a real Christmas tree, shred it into mulch to use around the garden. The needles make excellent compost for acid-loving plants like blueberries and rhododendrons.
4. Inspect Stored Bulbs and Tubers
Check stored bulbs, such as dahlia tubers and gladioli corms, for signs of rot or drying out. Discard any that are damaged to prevent spreading problems to healthy ones.
5. Feed the Birds
Support garden wildlife by providing high-energy foods like suet balls, sunflower seeds, mealworms and peanuts - we have a special offer on this month when you buy two 1.8kg bags of Tom Chambers Premium Peanuts for birds, where you can save £2.98! Ensure water sources for wildlife are unfrozen and clean. Remember that bird feeders also attract pollinators' predators, creating a natural balance in your garden.
6. Plan Crop Rotations
If you grow vegetables, now is a good time to plan your crop rotations for the year. Rotating crops helps reduce the risk of soil-borne pests and diseases and keeps your soil healthy.
7. Tidy Perennials and Borders
Cut back dead stems of herbaceous perennials to tidy borders and make way for new growth. Leave seed heads like sedum or teasel if you want to support wildlife.
8. Protect Ponds
Prevent pond surfaces from freezing over completely by floating a ball on the water. This ensures oxygen exchange and helps protect fish and other aquatic life.
9. Force Rhubarb
Cover rhubarb crowns with an upturned bucket or forcing jar to encourage early, tender stems. This technique creates sweeter rhubarb for harvesting in early spring.
10. Start Winter Pruning
Prune deciduous hedges and overgrown shrubs before new growth begins. This keeps them in shape and promotes healthier regrowth.
11. Plant Bare-Root Trees and Shrubs
As long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, January is ideal for planting bare-root roses, fruit trees, and hedging plants like Sarcococca, our plant of the month. They establish well in cool, moist soil.
12. Mulch Beds and Borders
Spread a layer of well-rotted manure or garden compost around plants to insulate roots, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure.
January is a quiet month in the garden but a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh air while preparing your garden for the year ahead. With these tips and a little help from our team at Hilltop Garden Centre, you’ll be well on your way to a successful and enjoyable gardening year. Whether you’re planting Sarcococca or starting your vegetable patch, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Visit our garden centre in Clacton-on-Sea to stock up on supplies, get expert advice, and enjoy a warm coffee in our café while you plan your next gardening project. Here’s to a blooming January from our team!
