My Daffodils Are Flowering Already – Plus 6 More of Your January Gardening Worries Answered
Expert easy-do solutions to your most common January garden problems.
Winter is a quieter time in the garden, so problems often go unnoticed until spring. However, if you do spot any issues, it’s best to tackle them now, as cold weather puts extra pressure on plants and lawns. Acting early can prevent minor concerns from turning into costly repairs once growth resumes. Here, we answer the most common winter garden challenges and explain how to deal with them.
"My daffodils are coming up already – will they be okay if it snows?"
Narcissus bulbs are incredibly hardy, so they’ll be fine, but freezing temperatures may lead to damage above ground and disappointing blooms this year. If the leaf tips have popped up during a warm spell, the plant will often return to dormancy if a cold snap hits. However, if there’s a fair bit of foliage, adding a layer of mulch (bark chips, straw, or simply a pile of autumn leaves) will insulate, limiting damage.
Soft new stems and flowers will be wiped out by a hard freeze: you can try popping an upturned trug over your daffodils, but your best bet is to simply snip the blooms to enjoy inside. Do check first if your daffs are an early variety such as ‘Rijneld’s Early Sensation’ though – they’re generally far more cold-hardy, so you can sit back and let nature take its course.
"What's the best way to defrost my bird bath?"
Smashing the ice risks cracking the bird bath, so pouring over warm water from your watering can is the safest way to defrost. Floating a ping pong ball or rubber duck in the water will help stop the water freezing over, as will moving the bird bath to a sunnier spot. The bigger the bath, the longer it'll take to freeze, so consider swapping in a larger, still-shallow container too.
"My neighbor’s cat is taking advantage of all my bare soil! What can I do without upsetting the cat or my neighbor?"
Cats are wonderful garden friends, but they do like to dig up our beds in winter. A simple solution is to cut bamboo canes into short lengths and stick these into the bare soil. You can leave them year-round, as they’ll soon be covered by spring growth.
Cats hate the smell of peppermint, so anything infused with peppermint oil such as these Cat Deterrent Balls from Amazon should keep them away. A last resort is an ultrasonic animal deterrent which emits a high-pitched sound that humans can’t hear, such as this solar-powered Animal Repeller from Amazon. You’ll probably only need to leave it in place for a week or two until your neighbor’s cat finds a more peaceful spot in someone else’s garden.
Every cat is different, and there are plenty more cat repellent ideas to try, including home remedies such as citrus peels and chili powder.
"Help! Patches of my lawn are soggy with snowmelt and the grass is starting to thin."
If you have any areas of standing water on your lawn, the waterlogged grass roots will be weakened, resulting in sparse growth. It's likely that this poor drainage is because of compacted ground. Use your garden fork to create drainage holes in these areas, pushing the tines to a depth of 5” or so. This will also allow oxygen back into the soil to boost root growth.
If these sparse patches still look less than lush in spring, strengthen them with fast-growing grass seed like this Bare Spot Repair Mix from Amazon. If the problem persists, it's likely you need to fully aerate your lawn.
"Lots of my houseplants have yellowing leaves. Is lack of water the problem?"
Yellowing houseplant leaves can indicate both under- and over-watering: foliage is usually floppy and soft if the plant is getting too much water, or has crispy tips if it’s not getting enough. Although slower growth rates through the darker months mean most houseplants need less water than in summer, central heating can dry out potting mix quickly, so it’s best to judge for yourself if and when plants need watering. Stick a finger in the soil to feel if it's moist, or use a simple moisture meter like this Growit Moisture Meter from Amazon.
This discoloring could also be due to your plants not getting enough light now the days are short and the sun is low in the sky. Check how much direct or indirect light each plant needs, conduct the shadow test to see how much they're getting, and move them accordingly. It may be that they need to be closer to a window during the winter.
"What's the white fungus just under the soil surface in my border, and should I get rid of it?"
Leave it be and enjoy the benefits! This is likely fungal mycelium and it's busy breaking organic matter down into nutrients that will help your plants grow. Did you add some homemade compost to the border last year, or could any wooden remnants – perhaps from an old shed – be buried in the soil? That's probably where the fungi have come from.
Many types of fungi are beneficial, while others can present a serious problem, so it's a smart move to learn about your garden fungi.
"Will I ruin my lawn if I walk over it on a frosty morning?"
When you stand on your lawn in below-zero temperatures, the frozen cells of the grass blades shatter. While this won’t kill the grass, it will damage it. Your lawn will easily recover, unless you repeatedly damage the same area, perhaps if you’re regularly crossing the lawn to reach the shed. If so, it’s time to think about adding a garden path.
