January

Gardening Tasks Reminder

Keep winter fertilization of house plants to a minimum. Plant growth during the dark months is at its slowest. Houseplants need a rest, as do the over-wintering plants brought in for the winter.

W ater:

Keep on watering. An inch of snow amounts to about 1/10th of an inch of water. Newly planted trees and shrubs need special attention, as well as roses and azaleas. Don't forget plants under the eaves. Keep needled evergreens moist to avoid excessive needle drop and winter kill. Place houseplants in a water-filled tray over gravel to replace moisture removed from dry inside air.

Don't forget the birds. Small heaters are available for little money. The rewards are great. Sometimes your heated bird bath may be the warmest place in the neighborhood, as well as the only source of water for those bits of feathered color who grace your yard.

M ulch:

Alternate freezing and thawing sometimes leaves roots exposed. Check perennial beds and re-firm plants into the soil and re-apply mulch if necessary. If you planted azaleas this fall, mulch with pine bark or oak leaves.

P rune:

January to mid-February is the ideal time to prune. Prune damaged limbs from Pecan trees as well as many other deciduous trees. Remove dead or unsightly limbs, sprouts growing at the base, crossed branches and narrow crotches. Refer to OSU Fact Sheet 6409, Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

P lant:

Continue planting paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis bulbs weekly for continuing bloom during winter months.

Start onion seedlings. Sow Cole crop seeds indoors for later transplant. Try sprinkling poppy and larkspur seeds on snow. Some folks swear that they get good results by using this method. Spring flowering bulbs that didn’t get planted can still go in if the ground is not frozen. .

P ests:

One method of controlling mealy bugs on houseplants: Touch with an swab dipped in alcohol.

T ips:

Gently remove accumulated snow from evergreens. However, if ice has accumulated, let it melt naturally, to avoid breaking branches.
Keep traffic off frozen grass, even if it's dormant.
If you are planning your garden, remember crop rotation. Rotation helps keep pests to a minimum, as well as replenishing the soil.
Protect liquid pesticides from freezing. Many products loose potency when frozen.
Winter is an ideal time for a soil test. Only a pint of soil is needed. Look for the instructions on How to Take a Soil Sample located in another area of our web site.
Remove leaves from cool season grasses or mow with a mulching lawnmower.
Remember the birds. Keep seeds, suet and fruit available. Blue Jays love raw peanuts.
Get out the gardening catalogs and start planning your garden for next season. Try new plants on the market. Look for plants that will withstand our long hot, dry season and drying winds.
January is a good time to peruse seed catalogs. Many are online. Click on Seed Catalogs and enjoy!

Contact the Master Gardeners at the Tulsa County Extension for more information.

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Date Modified:Sunday, 25-Oct-2009 12:12:58 EDT

Saturday, 04-Feb-2012 18:15:40 GMT