Your garden may seem dormant at the end of January, but beneath the surface there is a lot going on.

What steps can you take now to make your plot bloom in spring?

“I’m a gardening expert and now is the time to get my plot ready for spring,” says British gardener David Domoney, quoted by Express.

The end of January may feel like your garden is frozen in time, but for professionals, it’s a crucial time to get ahead of the curve.

The cold keeps plants dormant, but their roots continue to breathe and are vulnerable to frost, excess water, and oxygen deprivation. The damage only becomes apparent in March or April, when the garden struggles to recover. Everything depends on the timing.

Protected Soil: The Foundation for Preparing Your Garden for Spring

Domoney advises thinking “soil first.” On a dry day, spread a layer of compost, leaf mold, or well-rotted manure over the beds. Don’t dig in frozen or waterlogged soil: this will destroy its structure and compact the roots.

Add  a mulch  of dead leaves, straw, or wood shavings to insulate the soil from the cold, reduce erosion, and keep subterranean life active. However, experts interviewed by Sud Ouest caution against “over-tidy” gardens: leave a few dry stems and leaves at the base of hedges to provide shelter for beneficial insects.

Winter Damage Mitigation: Protection from Water, Frost, and Wildlife

In winter, overwatering is often more dangerous than cold. Monitor waterlogged areas, improve drainage, and place pots on paving stones to prevent waterlogging. Check moisture levels with your finger and never water frozen soil; choose a mild time of day, preferably in the morning.

Move delicate pots closer to a sheltered wall, wrap them in agrotextile, and only prune dead or diseased wood to avoid disrupting flowering. For wildlife, keep feeders full, change the water daily, and install nesting boxes now, well before the breeding season begins.

Planting, Organizing, Planning Ahead: Activities That Bring Results in Spring

Winter is a good time to plant fruit trees, roses, and bare-root hedges, provided the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Watering thoroughly after planting, followed by mulching the base, encourages strong root development before March. To quickly add color, choose early-flowering perennials: hellebores, which can bloom under snow (by trimming their old, spotted leaves), lungwort, primroses, pansies, and pansies, for which faded flowers should be removed regularly. Aubrieta, chrysanthemum, and saxifrage will carpet the flowerbed, protect the soil, and provide food for early pollinators.

In the vegetable garden, start pre-sprouting potatoes in a cool, bright spot, placing the tubers with the “eyes” facing up. Take this opportunity to wash pots and containers, prepare an aerated seeding mix, plan your crop rotation, and establish a simple schedule for the coming weeks.

• Dig gently  only in areas that are not wet, removing larger weeds.
• Spread compost or mature manure on future vegetable beds.
• Plant some hardy perennials in pots to fill gaps in your flower beds.
• Check the ties of young shrubs and sweep slippery paths.
• Prepare your labels, seeds and calendar to make your first sowings in March stress-free.

In short

• At the end of January, gardening expert David Domoney reminds us that we start preparing our garden for spring when the plot still seems dormant.
• Practical advice on soil, mulching, frost protection and water management to help reduce the invisible damage caused by winter.
• Focus on winter planting, early perennials, preparing the vegetable garden, and organizing sowings to gradually transform your gray plot into a living ecosystem.