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January in the Garden |
by
Carol Seminara, HCMG |
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January was named after
the Roman god Janus, who
oversaw the gate to the
New Year and was usually
portrayed with two faces
-- one that looks back
and one that looks
forward. |
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That’s how I feel when I
reflect on the past 12
months in my garden:
nostalgic for the past
and expectant about the
future. I remember some
successes, like the
hearty stand of arugula
that remains delicious
even after some of the
plants have started to
bolt, and a few failures
I’d be just as happy
forgetting: the early
freeze that took my
entire crop of fall
tomatoes or the numerous
ill-suited seeds, bulbs
and plants I’ve killed
through either ignorance
or willfulness. |
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So begins another year
and, with it, another
chance at creating
paradise on a scant
half-acre. Following are
some January garden
chores, gleaned from
experience, fellow MG’s
advice, several
gardening month-by-month
articles and books, and
some wishful thinking
brought on by Christmas
nursery gift-cards. |
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This month give your
perennials a good
pruning to remove old,
dead or unsightly
branches. Mulch and weed
beds, and water plants,
as needed. Tender
perennials such as
salvias, lantana, ferns,
etc., should have their
crowns covered by a 2-4
inch layer of mulch when
freezes are expected. |
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Since they are dormant
now, January is a good
month to plant and/or
transplant shrubs, but
not immediately before a
hard freeze (temperature
in the teens) is
predicted. Watering
shrubs during this month
is generally not
necessary, but if a hard
freeze is expected and
the soil is dry, the
plant should be watered
thoroughly before it
gets cold. Moisture
around the roots can
help a plant survive
freezing weather. |
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Generally, trees don’t
need much attention or
watering during January.
Any broken branches
caused by winter storms
will need to be pruned.
This is also a good time
to prune shade and most
types of fruit trees.
Proper pruning,
especially of fruit
trees, is specific and
you may want to consult
an arborist or tree
surgeon, or pick up a
brochure from the
Extension Office for
precise details
how-to-do it. |
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Now, too, is a good time
for planting new trees,
both deciduous and
evergreen. Newly planted
trees should be
watered-in thoroughly;
deciduous trees won’t
need to be watered
again, but evergreens
will need additional
watering if the weather
is very mild and dry. |
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Turf grass needs only
minor attention during
January such as watering
if needed and this is a
good time to dig out any
winter weeds that are
growing. |
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Of course we can’t
forget our houseplants.
Heating your home causes
low humidity, so it’s a
good idea to group
houseplants so they can
transpire together.
Water them when needed,
checking the soil first.
You don’t want to over
water and you do want to
keep houseplants away
from extreme temperature
fluctuations from
heating vents and cold
drafts from open doors
or windows. |
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In addition to pansies,
snapdragons and
calendula, some other
cheerful annuals to
plant now are dianthus,
ornamental kale and
Johnny-Jump-Ups
(violas). These plants
thrive in cool weather
and most will bloom any
time the temperature is
above freezing. Mulch
thoroughly (at least 2
inches) to retain soil
warmth and moisture, and
to retard weed growth.
If the winter remains
dry, water these annuals
thoroughly once a week.
These plants will peak
in the spring and should
be pulled up with the
onset of summer’s heat. |
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Now’s also the time to
plant spring bulbs like
daffodils, paper-whites
(narcissus) and freesia
(okay, freesia are grown
from corms, but this is
still a good time to
plant them). Bulbs need
an extra-thick layer (up
to 6 inches) of mulch if
a really hard freeze
(temperature in the
teens) is expected, and
they should be watered
as needed. And it’s
always a good idea to
keep notes on where and
what bulbs you plant for
future reference. |
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Carol Seminara is a
certified Hill Country
Master Gardener. Her
column appears every
other week in the
Kerrville Daily Times.
If you have questions
about gardening, contact
Hill Country Master
Gardeners in the Kerr
AgriLife Extension
Office at 257-6568. Or,
email
kerr@ag.tamu.edu |
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© 2009 Carol Seminara
Photographs by Joe Houde
Studio, Fredericksburg,
Texas except where
otherwise noted |
