January Gardening Tips
- Winter prune Roses including removal of all leaves still hanging on stems and those on the ground which can harbor disease and insect pests.
- Prune Dormant fruit and deciduous trees including removal of old fruit still on tree and any fruit and leaves on the ground which can harbor disease and insect pests.
- Apply dormant spray to bare branched trees, shrubs and roses to control diseases and pests.
- Clean up leaf litter though out garden and landscape.
- Prune Winter flowering plants such as Camellias after bloom.
- Do not cut back freeze damaged plants until Spring or all danger of frost has passed. The damaged portions will protect any undamaged growth from further damage.
- Irrigation Controllers should be in the “OFF” Position.
- Cover exposed water pipes when freeze warnings are posted
- Fertilize lawns at end of January with a nitrogen fertilizer such as Ammonium sulfate or Ammonium nitrate.
- Remove small weeds before they get established.
- Dead head (remove spent bloom and bloom spikes) perennials if not done yet.
- Clean dead leaves and debris away from dormant perennials
- Divide dormant perennials and transplant to other areas of the garden.
- Pull out dead annuals and replace with English Primrose (Primula acaulis) or Cyclamen. These will perform better in the garden until March or April.
- Cut back/clean perennials such as Nepeta, Erigeron, Asters and Stachys
- Keep an eye out for aphids sheltering in ornamental grasses, winter vegetables, Daylilies, Hellebores. Spray with organic insecticide or a 10% dish soap solution.
- Purchase and plant bare root plants. Be sure to soak bare-root plants for 2 hours before planting in a prepared hole. Do not allow roots to dry out before planting. Stake newly planted trees to prevent them from falling over.
- Plant “living Christmas Trees” that were used inside and allow room for a tree that can grow to large proportions.