🗂️Keep in Mind The Nine Gardening Tasks You Should Do in January

[_=*Croft*=_]

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Some people think of January as a quiet, reflective time for gardeners, but those people probably don't know any gardeners. Actually, January is full of glee and excitement. Seed catalogs are out, and it's high time to set up seed starting stations. Plus, with the holidays out of the way, we can focus solely on planning for the spring and summer season.

Here's what you should check off your list this month.

Order your bulbs​

For the second year in a row, most of the country is experiencing a mild winter, which means the earth is still workable, even in early January. Take advantage of this time, as I have, and get an order of fall bulbs into the ground at bare bottom discounts. I just ordered 300 tulip, ranunculus, and allium bulbs, and look forward to a few chill afternoons planting them. My favorite bulb houses, like Tulip World and Eden Brothers, are all featuring steep discounts of more than 60% off, which means now is the time to grab expensive bulbs (like alliums).

Do a midwinter cleanup​

Sure, you put your beds to...bed a few months ago. But post-holiday, it's a good idea to do some tidying. Clean up branches that have blown into your yard, sweep the sidewalks, and ensure you get the keep the eaves from clogging the drains in the street. Those flowers you were holding onto at the end of the season are also likely ready to be chopped back. Turn your compost over to keep it brewing good bacteria, so it will be ready by spring.

Prune your shrubs and trees now that the leaves are gone​

Now that most trees and shrubs are in their winter dormancy, and I don’t have a lot of other garden tasks keeping me busy, I’m taking the time to really look at them. Don't just hack them back; think about the structure of the plant. With the leaves all gone, I can truly see the branches and take time to be thoughtful in how pruning will inform the growth pattern. For instance, the giant hydrangea at my door, devoid of leaves, is exposed so I can be sure to cut out any branches that are growing inward, or crossing another branch. Since the tips all feature buds now, I can be more deliberate in which branches are old growth versus new growth. Never take more than one-third of the plant, but now is a good time to do a hard cut back of these older shrubs to encourage healthy growth. I’m taking the same tack with the blueberries I ignored this past fall.

Now that they're naked, I can more clearly see where to prune the Japanese Maple and the branches of my cherry trees that overhang the street. These overhanging branches are most at risk during winter and spring storms, so the quiet of this time of year is a good time to address them if you haven’t yet.

If you need to move shrubs and trees, now is the time. A cherry that has overgrown its space is on my agenda this month, and I started by simply going in with a spade all around the tree, to get it ready. The rain will do the rest for me, so that when i’m ready, the ground will be, too. It’s also a good time to plant shrubs and trees, even though it might feel otherwise.

Believe it or not, it's time to start some seeds​

The major push for spring and summer planting is still a month or two away, but you do want to think about the flowers (columbine, foxglove, and delphinium) and herbs ( lavender, lemongrass, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme) that require a long germination periods, as well as the vegetables you need to plant in early spring—artichokes and asparagus (yes, you can grow your own asparagus, although most people buy three-year-old crowns), onions/leeks, and celery.

Cold stratify any seeds that need it​

Many seeds, whether poppies or phlox, enjoy (and sometimes require) a chill period of six weeks or so. We’re running out of time on that requirement; seed starting is immanent. If the winter is mild, you may want to cold stratify in your fridge, or try a new method I'm giving a go: Bag your seeds and keep them outside all winter.

Visit your local garden center​

One of my favorite places to go walking with my dog is the garden center. Unlike the spring and summer when garden centers are packed full of colorful blooms and seasonal help, winter is when the year round help are around, and they’ve got some time on their hands. Now is when they can spare 30 minutes to talk to you about a particular hedge or precisely what clematis would bloom on your wall. Take advantage of this time to really dig into their expertise about everything garden-related. Want to get your soil really healthy? These are the people most likely to be able to help and can walk you through the fertilizer section with time and thoughtfulness they won’t be able to spare in March.

Test your soil and make any necessary adjustments​

Speaking of soil, the most important factor to the success of your plants is soil health, and unfortunately, just dumping fertilizer into the soil isn’t going to do it. You need to know what’s in your soil and now is a great time to do some of that work. There are soil kits on the market, but generally its best to get a soil test to know what you’re working with. Your garden center can help you do so—just give them a call.

Start dreaming and planning​

Start sketching a plan for this spring. What is going to go where; how many plants do you need; do you need new trellises or should you move them? I don’t get into varieties yet, I just worry about what I’ll plant, where, so I know I’ll need 10 tomato plants or five kinds of peas. I sketch this out in my garden journal.

Collect seed catalogs​

I’ve been ignoring the stack until I can devote time to it, but make sure you’re at least getting the catalogs and if not, get onto the websites and sign up for them. Websites are helpful and where I ultimately end up ordering, but a catalog, with its ability to be dog-eared, is indispensable for seed hunting, in my opinion. The nation is full of seed houses and I tend to gravitate towards seed houses with test gardens nearby, so I know the seeds will work where I live. You can find yours by googling. As backup for a wealth of varieties, I make sure to have Burpee and Johnny Seeds catalogs.
Full story here:

To view the content, you need to Sign In or Register.