January might feel like a quiet time in the garden, but here at Killeen Castle Estate it’s actually one of our busiest months. With most plants fully dormant, now is the ideal time to get stuck into pruning and general maintenance jobs that set the garden up for the year ahead. While there may be little visible growth above ground, the work carried out now plays a vital role in how the garden performs in spring and summer.
One of our main tasks at the moment is cutting back the grapevines and the espalier apple trees, which are among the most striking features of the walled garden. Espalier trees are fruit trees trained flat along walls, creating both a decorative and productive feature. Pruning them in January helps maintain their shape, keeps growth under control, and encourages strong, healthy shoots and good fruiting later in the season. It’s all about balance – removing excess growth while preserving the main framework so the trees remain neat, productive and visually pleasing.
We’re also spending plenty of time cutting back wisteria and keeping ivy under control across the grounds. Ivy can be beautiful, particularly on old stone walls, but left unchecked it can quickly take over. At this time of year, we carefully remove any wild or invasive growth that’s creeping up stonework or pushing underneath the old stone copings. This not only keeps the garden looking tidy and well cared for, but also helps protect the venue’s historic walls and structures from long-term damage.
Wisteria, in particular, can cause a bit of head-scratching for gardeners. It’s notorious for producing lots of leafy growth but very few flowers if it isn’t pruned correctly. January is the perfect time to tackle it. We cut back to this year’s flowering buds, pruning just above them, and remove old timber or thick, woody stems that are no longer productive. This helps direct the plant’s energy into flowering rather than excessive leaf growth.
Once pruning is complete, we give the wisteria a good feed. Applying a suitable fertiliser at this stage supports strong bud development and, with a bit of luck, rewards us with a spectacular display of flowers in early summer. There’s nothing quite like wisteria in full bloom cascading over stone walls, and it’s a feature visitors always admire. The effort put in now is well worth it.
So while the garden may look bare at first glance, there’s plenty happening behind the scenes. January is all about preparation – pruning, tidying, and setting strong foundations for the months ahead. Get these jobs done now, and the garden will thank you when spring arrives.
January’s gardening tips video is part of Killeen Castle Estate’s monthly series, created to give practical advice and guidance on all aspects of gardening, including mowing, growing, pruning and composting. This month’s tips are shared by Michael, who works as part of the groundskeeping team at Killeen Castle Estate. Michael loves working outdoors and takes great pride in caring for the grounds alongside the rest of the team. His hands-on experience and enthusiasm help make the advice practical, approachable and useful for gardeners of all levels.
View the January Monthly video here