J anuary is definitely the coldest month of the year. The furnace is working overtime to warm the house and extra covers are on the bed. I roll back the warm covers and firmly place both feet on the floor. The timer on the coffee maker faithfully made the coffee as usual. I don't even want to think about gardening until I have had the first cup of coffee, so don't even ask me anything about it.
Ahhh! I'm now on the second cup and the morning doesn't look so bleak after all. My brain has shifted into second gear and I actually think I can make a go of it
When I was growing up I spent the better part of winters trouncing through snow that was up to my knees, shoveling walks and driveways, with earmuffs, hooded parka, and thick gloves covering every inch of my body. Now, in Texas the most I ever see is +20 degree nights and one inch of snow one time during the winter. It is still enough to steam my glasses and ice the windows of my car.
Maybe I can get in the mood for some outdoor activities. Would someone give me a pull out of this easy chair?
Planting and Transplanting. The winter season provides an excellent time to plant or transplant major trees and shrubs. The plants will adapt quickly when planted in cold, moist weather and they will be well established prior to spring growth and prior to summer heat. If you have a Japanese maple that was getting too much sun during the past summer December or January is the time to move it while it is fully dormant. Dig a large hole and get as much of the root ball and roots as you can. Root stimulator should be applied when planting new trees or shrubs and should be applied every month for the first year after they come out of dormancy.
Pruning: If you prune now, just remember hollies and other berry producing plants usually produce berries on two-year-old wood; thus, if you remove current or new growth, you also eliminate the berries. Do not prune azaleas and quince, as you will be removing potential spring blooms
Roses: It is too early to plant roses. Wait until March. You cannot get them now anyway. Hold off on pruning roses until February. Climbing roses should be trained but not pruned. Weave the long canes through openings in trellises or arbors and tie them with twine or plant ties.
Cultivate vegetable garden areas: You might as well start cultivating garden areas and remove expose weeds and grass roots. This will save time preparing for the mid-February planting. Turn the soil and amend some compost.
Rake over-thatched lawn grasses: To remove winter-killed grass and to open and aerate turf give the lawn area a good rake-over.
Prepare for February planting of cool season annuals: Loosen the ground and prepare the soil for the February annuals and add in peat moss or compost. Some of these include hollyhocks, coneflower, poppy, annual phlox, larkspur, gladiolus and dahlia. Some will come back on their own. There is something magical about plants that like your garden so well that they choose to come back each year for another visit.
Larkspur prefers full sun to partial shade in very well drained soils. Do not eat flower or seed! Eating larkspur seed and young plants can cause more digestive upset, nervous excitement and depression and eating a large amount can be fatal. The genus name is "Delphinium". Although larkspur grows during winter, it takes the warmth of spring to coax them into rapid growth. They reach their full height around Easter.
Protect those tender plants: Be prepared to cover and protect those tender plants for a hard freeze. Have the materials on hand so you do not have to make a desperate run to the store at the last minute.
Soil test for pH and P,N,K: Phosphorus, Nitrogen and Potassium are the Big Three and you need to know your soil conditions. Get a soil test kit from the Extension Office and send it in.
Make Plans: Make flower and vegetable garden plans now. Work on your landscape changes and plan what you want to change, plant, and spend. You're back in the house taking a nap again aren't you?
January is a great time for dreaming and planning for spring. It's a good time for planting and preparing plants and soil for a new year and a new season. The beauty and production of each season in your landscape depends on planning and accomplishments from the prior month.
Trees & Shrubs: Remove mistletoe while it is still young. Clip small twigs down low on the tree where it is growing. That will kill the upper growth. There is no spray that will control it without harming the host tree. Be on the lookout for scale insects on camellias, euonymous, hollies, photinia, fruit and shade trees.
Remove those bagworm bags from junipers to prevent an increase of the insect.
Evaluate winter damage: Don't be too anxious to destroy winter-damaged plants. Even though you can see that foliage may be damaged, a recovery may occur come spring and the plant will leaf out. Stem areas may be damaged, yet the plant may respond from the root system, best wait until early spring to prune or eliminate. Some cold damage may not be obvious until summer stress.
Have I given you enough to get your busy? And you thought you were going to keep that large recliner chair warm all winter.
By Derald Freeman, TCMGA MG