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#GrowYourself
How to Beat the January Blues with Gardening 

With the warm glow of Christmas fading into the cold of the new year, it’s not hard to see why some of us suffer with the January blues. We might be packing up the Christmas lights and taken down the tree, but there’s an opportunity to create something beautiful in the months to come, if we’re brave enough to get outside and brace the chills.

 

As part of our #GrowYourself campaign this year, we’re looking at how gardening can help us keep the blues at bay over winter. The best gardens start with soil preparation, planning, sowing and tidying. Actively working towards something you know will bring you and others so much joy for the rest of the year will help you stay active and joyful. 

January gardening: How to shake the January blues

This time of year, the weather drives us inside, with the frost nipping at our fingers or the rain making outdoor work trickier. So, we must focus on little wins. There are also things that we can do indoors to help prepare for the year ahead. 


Getting outdoors and staying active are both powerful ways to reduce stress and improve your mood. So, giving yourself something to focus on that will bring you outside is an excellent way to help the winter months seem less dull. Gardening allows us this opportunity and encourages us to get creative and get our hands in the soil, another brilliant way to lift the spirits. 

How January Gardening Improves Mental Health

Have you ever felt yourself drift off into little fantasies about your garden? Flower beds brimming with colour, kitchen gardens full of produce and the thrill of enjoying it all? Most of us have. But for many, these kinds of thoughts, just like leaves pushing up from the soil, only occur in spring when it starts to get warm. However, spring can be a hectic time, and the feeling of being constantly behind or unable to keep up isn’t particularly good for your mental well-being. 


Taking the time to work towards your summer garden allows you to slow down and enjoy the process more. Gardening is incredibly mindful; in other words, it will enable you to focus on completing a task and rest your mind. Gardening is also physical, and getting our bodies moving this time of year helps to warm us up and cheer us up. Moreover, working outside helps us feel more in touch with the seasons, nature, and ourselves, naturally balancing our moods. 

Planning Your Garden

If you're staring down a week of rainy days and are not sure what to do with yourself, now is the perfect time to plan your garden. Use this time to get creative, sketch out what you want, and make lists of the plants you want to grow and the seeds you want to sow. You don't have to be a great artist, and your plans don't have to be set in stone, but having something to work towards can help create momentum and give you a blueprint for how to spend your time. 

Order Your Seeds

Another indoor task for you (best performed with a warm cup of tea) is organising and ordering your seeds. There's nothing worse than going outside to sow in spring only to realise that you don't have the seeds you need. Getting ahead of it now, planning for when you will do these showings will all help drive you forward towards spring. 


Don't be afraid to make changes to your garden plan if you see something that really excites you when shopping for seeds. Feeling that excitement will instantly lift your spirits and help build momentum for the other tasks you need to carry out this time of year.

 

Shop for Seeds Here

Beat the January Blues by sowing Seeds

From the moment you set that tiny seed in the ground, the excitement begins. It feels as though the cycle of life is beginning once again, and we get to be there to bear witness. The excitement of discovering that your seed has transformed seemingly overnight into an exquisitely beautiful tiny plant is one of the greatest joys in gardening.

 

While not all seeds will appreciate being sown at this time of year, there are still some we can sow and plant in January that will help us create the garden of our dreams later in the year. Take the time that January offers us to acquaint yourself with when to sow the things that you want to grow in your garden. Even if it is just sweet peas, a holiday staple of any cottage garden, make sure you sow something, to give yourself something to get excited about. 
 

Celebrate Small Wins

As January gardening can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable due to the weather, focus on completing small tasks that can be done in a short time. Try making a list of the jobs that you need to do, such as cleaning your greenhouse, sharpening your tools, organising your seeds, clearing or preparing flower beds, weeding or pruning. Work through your list steadily, and don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back every time you complete a task. The sense of achievement you will get from finishing these tasks will help you feel a warm winter glow and bring you one step closer to the garden of your dreams. 

Gardening Helps Banish the January Blues

It’s very common to feel down this time of year. The dark days and lack of colour can feel oppressive, and we miss being in our gardens surrounded by birds, butterflies and blooms. But getting your hands in the soil, going outside and making meaningful steps towards improving your garden can all help us to feel better. Most of us know that going outside releases serotonin in our brains, which helps improve our mood and reduce stress. But getting our hands in the soil also has this effect. So don’t wait until spring to feel the joy of gardening. Doing things outside, little and often, can help us get through the gloomy season with our heads held high.

FAQs

What should I do in my garden this January?

January gardening is all about planning, preparation and little wins. Make sure to organise your seeds and your growing space, order new seeds, bulbs and plants, plan your garden and sharpen your tools. Make any changes to your garden’s layout while it’s still relatively empty, and make sure to repair or replace things like old sheds, water butts, and compost bins while you still have time.

Can you plant anything during January in the UK?

Yes, you can plant some things in January, though the light levels are still relatively low. Sweet peas, snapdragons, violas and petunias are among the flowers that can be sown this month. Bear in mind that planting too early in the year may result in weak seedlings that stretch towards the light. If this is a problem, you could consider using grow lights to help.

Why do I feel so good after gardening?

Getting outdoors, doing something active and getting your hands in the soil are all great mood boosters, as many gardeners will attest. There is plenty of science to back that up too, with gardening known to release happy hormones in your brain. 

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