In order to really keep on top of your garden, you need to be outdoors pruning every month of the year to take proper care of all the different plants.
There's no exception to January, and the fact your garden is now at its most dormant means it's ideal to catch up on any areas you may have previously missed with your secateurs.
Even if the weather's not great, you can afford to wait a couple of weeks so you don't get a soaking while carrying out this essential task – just so long as you get the job done before the sap starts to rise in your plants as we get closer to spring.
Of course, for the larger jobs you may wish to consult a tree surgeon before cutting any branches down to size, as you could end up doing more harm than good if you are not sure what you're doing. However, there are plenty of plants you can prune without needing to consult a professional.
Various shrubs, climbers and trees will benefit from your attention – and pruning them now can encourage strong growth and benefit the health of the plant for the year ahead.
However, there isn't a hard and fast rule for pruning all species of plant in your garden. The rules differ depending on what you're growing and even how old the plant is, so if in doubt then you should take the time to research each individual plant's needs.
For example, ornamental pear trees require no routine pruning other than the removal of badly-positioned branches that provide an imbalance to their shape. As the tree gets older, you should consider removing lower branches so the trunk is clear for the first two metres.
Meanwhile, the climber wisteria needs to be pruned properly twice a year – now and in July – if you want to get the most out of it by helping it to produce impressive 'curtains' of flowers in the summer months.
Trim the plant's long stems to within two to three buds from their base for now – the reward will be there for all to see over the course of the year.
There are plenty of shrubs that will also benefit from a good pruning in January. Brugmansia – also known as angel's trumpets or datura – should be cut so all the growth of the previous year is taken back. This will help to keep it flowering well and within its bounds, especially if it has its own tub on your patio or decking. Expect to see beautiful hanging trumpet flowers coming from this highly poisonous variety later on.
Nevertheless, there are simply too many varying instructions for each plant to include a detailed rundown here – so if in doubt you should research the individual varieties you have in your garden for instructions on how to prune at this time of the year. Just don't put the job off for too long!
