January is usually the coldest month of the year, if not the wettest, but there are a few important jobs to be done in the garden and you will feel better once you’re outside. I find the weather can look worse than it actually is when you’re “inside, looking out.”

A task that is important to crack on with now is the pruning of apple and pear trees. On a crisp and clear day, I find this job quite stimulating – the art of deciding where and how to cut and shape a tree is really rewarding and the effort of it will soon warm you up, too.

Prune trees to a hollow goblet shape

I always begin any tree pruning by removing damaged branches, as these will be susceptible to rot. I then look for and remove any crossing branches that will rub against each other and harm themselves as the tree blows in the wind. The following priority is then to prune any inward-growing branches, as the ultimate aim is to create a hollow goblet shape, allowing space and airflow in the centre of the canopy.

Lastly (and this is often down to personal preference), you can shape the tree to the height you would like the main structure to be and then proceed to cut it back to around this size each year, cutting any new growth a couple of buds above this basal structure.

Another job that may be pressing at the start of this month is disposing of your Christ
mas tree. If there aren’t any goats that you know of locally that will happily munch it for you, you could always try mulching it instead. Most garden shredders will get through the branches of a Christmas tree and you can use the chippings to mulch around plants in your garden as an effective weed suppressant.

Create a dead hedge

If you don’t have a shredder for your Christmas tree, or are wondering what to do with all of your apple tree cuttings or other woody garden waste, I would recommend creating a dead hedge. This is essentially a strip of piled branches that can easily be made alongside some spare ground or even under a living hedge.

It is a great way to quickly get rid of this sort of waste without having a bonfire and it makes a valuable habitat for small mammals and amphibians, as well as insects and bugs, as the woody branches decay.

Top up your bird feeders and check their water

Finally, and most importantly, before you head back indoors, don’t forget to top up your bird feeders and check their water isn’t frozen solid. Then you can enjoy looking at your garden, and its wildlife, from the warmth of your home.