January is coming to an end which means gardeners have just days to complete this month's tasks.
Keen gardeners will know that certain gardening jobs are best undertaken in certain months. And according to beloved British horticulturist Monty Don, it's time to prune your trained decorative trees and shrubs.
Pruning is a key part of creating and maintaining a beautiful garden. Pruning controls the shape of a plant and encourages fresh new growth.
In his January blog, Monty said: "We try and prune our pleached lime trees in January and if any hedges need regenerating, this is the best time to do it.
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Monty Don shared an essential January gardening task
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"The limes have all their new growth removed, taking them back to the basic structure which will then renew itself in spring.
"This creates thousands of brightly coloured whippy stems that we shred and use as mulch and for temporary paths."
Those who have hedges should get cutting these now - "they will regrow with extra vigour so it is the best time to cut back a weak hedge".
On the other hand, a trim in summer will restrict the growth of the hedge.
Monty continued: "If you have a very overgrown deciduous hedge it can be taken back right to the ground and will regrow afresh to make a hedge that is thicker and denser but more manageable." A deciduous tree is one that loses its leaves in autumn.
However, this method does not work for many evergreen hedges other than yew, box and holly - and besides, these should be cut back in spring rather than January.
The expert said: "One of the things I like best about January - even when the weather is so wet - is the grey, pearly light on the bare, stripped-back bones of the garden.
"It creates a ghostly, misty atmosphere that is unique to the early weeks of the year."
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If you cut hedges now they will 'regrow with extra vigour'
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The gardening guru shared a few more tasks that should be completed before the end of the month.
One important January job is the pruning of soft fruit. Gardening enthusiasts should also do their winter pruning of fruit trees.
For those looking to make a start on February's garden tasks, one of the top gardening jobs for the next month will be preparing vegetable seed beds and sowing some vegetables under cover.
Gardeners can also chit potato tubers and protect the blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches.
