The calendar says it is winter, and all you want to do is curl up with some hot cocoa in a warm blanket. But before you do that, make sure you’ve tackled some important garden tasks for January. Now is a great month to enjoy sun-kissed afternoons without the blistering heat and humidity of summer. Once your garden prep is done, you will be ready for an amazing spring planting season.
Enrich the Soil – If you are planning a spring vegetable garden, then now is a great time to prepare the soil. That will give the soil six weeks or so to settle and come together. You’ll be all ready to plant when veggie starts arrive at the nursery.
Prune Deciduous Shrubs and Trees – Now is the time to prune any shrubs and trees that are deciduous (that lose their leaves in the winter). Top on this list are crape myrtles. Prune now, so that when spring arrives they flush out with new growth perfectly from where you trimmed.
Plant Flowers – “But it’s winter. I never planted flowers up north in the winter . . .” We hear it all the time. But you moved here (or live here) for a reason. Gorgeous flowers are available and bloom all year long. Plant cool season favorites like petunias, pansies, and geraniums now for bright, happy color throughout the winter season.
Dig a Little – Planning a new flower bed or garden? Now is the best weather for getting out and doing some hard work. It’s cool and you won’t (usually) get dehydrated and over-heated. So dig out some sod, pull some weeds, and clean up the leaves that are falling. With the hard work done now, spring will be a breeze.
Check Sprinklers – You aren’t running them much now, but rather than wait until you need them in March, run each sprinkler zone, and check for leaks and clogs.
Garden Inside – If Mother Nature does feel like pretending it is winter for a few day, never fear, you can still garden indoors. Repot houseplants that are aching for some root room or start your indoor jungle by finding a nice sunny spot for a few of nature’s indoor air purifiers.