January is a time for rest and recuperation as the best place to view the garden is often from indoors. Having said that, the bright winter sunshine and crisp frosty mornings are often my favourite times of the year in the garden. I love seeing the gardens structure highlighted by that low Winter light. Frosty mornings can also be quite calm and serene, it gives us a chance, (in between the rainy days), to appreciate the garden in a completely different light.

Acer davidii is a beautiful small tree which develops a spreading crown of arching branches, it’s one of the best of the ‘snakebark’ maples, so-called for their distinctive textured bark which starts red on young shoots, eventually turns to green and white serpentine stripes.

Acer davidii is a perfect specimen tree to be grown as a standard or multi-stem, it is ideal for a courtyard or garden setting and prefers a sheltered location, although it is fully hardy and will grow in almost all well drained soils up to 10-15 metres high. Its mid-green and often lobed foliage is renowned for its fine autumn colour which flush orange, pink and then fall in yellow. While it does flower in spring the yellow racemes flowers are pretty insignificant along with the clusters of winged seeds that follow the spring flowers.

Acer davidii was originally discovered by Basque priest Armand David who was a missionary in Central China and is categorised under the Aceraceae family.

As Its most attractive feature for many is its attractive green and white striped bark the best place to plant this Acer would be where it can be seen, especially in the winter when the bark becomes more evident. It works well as a specimen planted in a mixed border but would also work well standing alone too.

Jobs to be done in January:
Ornamental Garden.
• If the ground is waterlogged then keep off the soil to avoid compaction and worsening the conditions.
• If snow falls – Do not let the snow sit on the shrubs, gently shake off to prevent damage.
• Prune bush or standard apples and pears, aiming to create an open framework of about 5 main branches.
• Sweet Peas can be sown this month and those sown in the autumn can be potted on. Place them in a sunny greenhouse, coldframe or windowsill.
• Plan annual cut flowers for the borders.
• Mulch borders if not already done in autumn.
• Plant deciduous hedges.
• Move deciduous trees and shrubs if necessary.
• Ensure protective coverings such as fleece / mulch have remained in place over frost tender plants.
• Avoid walking on turf when the grass is covered with frost or is waterlogged.

Vegetable Garden
• Protect brassicas from pigeons with cloches, netting or fleece.
• Harvest Winter Veg such as parsnip, swede, sprouts, leeks and turnip.
• Remove one third of the oldest stems of blackcurrants at ground level to encourage new basal shoots.