
January
January has an average maximum temperature of 28.0°C, and an average minimum temperature of 13.2°C. January has an average rainfall of 58.5mm.

What to do this month
- It’s time to prune your roses mid-month, for an autumn display. Check for any insect and weather issues which may have caused black spot, rust and mildew.
- Now is a great time to purchase Crepe Myrtles.
- Increase watering to garden especially shallow-rooted plants such as lemon trees and Camellias as they get thirsty.
- Check soil for moisture and add a wetting agent if needed, to draw water deeply into soil. Check watering systems are working correctly and mulch where needed.
- Make sure your outdoor pots are watered regularly as they will dry out. Adding a wetting agent will help retain moisture. Hanging baskets could be placed in a shadier spot to help with water retention.
- To aerate lawns you can use a pitchfork to create holes.
- Don’t forget about the bird and animal life around your home, and keep topping up water containers and bird baths.
- Fruit trees may need support to prevent limbs from breaking.
- Apply blood and bone to citrus trees and check for sooty mould, scale or leaf miners. These can be combated with horticultural oil.
- Berry bushes will need canes removed after they have fruited.

Vegetables
- Top up mulch and keep water up to plants.
- Plant some blue (borage), purple (sage) and yellow (sunflower) plants in your veggie garden to attract pollinating insects.
Sow
- Beetroot
- Brussels sprout
- Dwarf and climbing beans
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cucumber
- Kale
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Radish
- Silver beet
- Swede
Plant
- Beetroot
- Cauliflower
- Chinese cabbage
- Cucumber
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Silver beet
- Sweet corn
- Tomato
- Zucchini
Harvest
- Asian greens
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Potato
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Silver beet
- Tomato
- Zucchini

Flowers and bulbs
- Plant some Salvia in your garden. They are quick-growing, full of colour and great for attracting bees.
- Deadhead spent flowers from annuals and fertilise every few weeks for great blooms. You are now able to sow many annual seeds.
- Trim early-planted Petunias for new growth and encourage second flush.
- Nip out centres of Chrysanthemums to encourage lateral growth.
- Fuchsias can be fertilised and lightly pruned.
- Now is a great time to plant Vinca if you have some spare space in hot sunny spots.
Flowers and bulbs