January gardening jobs

Kick off the year on the right foot by tackling some essential garden tasks. Here are a few to get started.

Care for gift plants

If you have been given a plant as a Christmas present, it will make a great living memento of your relationship with the giver. To help the plant thrive, start by doing some research to learn about its preferred growing conditions. Decide if you are going to grow the plant in a pot or in the garden. Water the plant well before taking it out of the pot and inspecting the root ball. Trim crowded roots or make vertical cuts through the root mass using a sharp knife. Plant in good-quality potting mix or prepared soil and keep well watered over summer.

Tidy kangaroo paw

Give kangaroo paws a mid-summer tidy by pruning spent flowers and dead foliage. Remove diseased or blackened leaves and any that are affected by rust. Thinning the clumps can also help to rejuvenate these plants. To do this, select some of the leaf fans that are carrying dead flower stems and tug sharply to completely remove the fan. After pruning, fertilise your paws with organic pellets and keep them well watered through the hot weather. If more extensive pruning is required, wait until early autumn.

Protect plants from sunburn

Super hot days can cause no end of damage to plants, especially those with tender foliage. When a heatwave is predicted, if possible, move any at-risk potted plants into protected spots. If the plant can’t be moved, try setting up temporary shade using an old umbrella (below) or throwing cloth over some strategically placed stakes. Be prepared before the heat arrives by spraying soft leaves with anti-transpirant, which acts a bit like a sunscreen for plants. Lastly, if a plant does get burnt, leave the damaged foliage in place until the end of the season. Yes, it will look unattractive for the time being, but it will prevent further burning of the lower leaves.