Even before the holiday decorations are put away, the seed catalogs begin arriving in the mail with reminders that spring isn't far away. In spite of the weather, there's plenty to do in the garden.
Start with the Christmas tree
By New Year's the Christmas tree has become a needle-shedding fire hazard. It's time to take it outside and redecorate it for the birds. Suet, orange slices, cranberries and pine cones smeared with peanut butter or melted suet then rolled in bird seed, can all be hung from the tree to provide welcomed calories for birds. Later the tree can be chipped and added to the compost pile or used for mulch.
Prune Apple and Pear Trees
Pear and apple trees are dormant in January, therefore, in all but the coldest climates, this is a good time to prune them. The University of Ohio Extension Service publishes a fact sheet on their web site. It suggests removing dead, damaged or diseased wood first. Apples and pears develop their fruit on short branches called fruiting spurs. These spurs are only productive for five to seven years. Pruning encourages the growth of new spurs that are generally more productive than the older ones. Next remove branches that cross one another, or are so entangled they'll shade each other and limit air flow when the tree is fully leafed out. Also cut away suckers that have come up at the base of the tree.
Plant bulbs
Fall is the optimal time to plant bulbs, but for the consummate procrastinators who still have unplanted bulbs on hand, it's not too late to put the bulbs in the ground--providing the ground isn't frozen solid. Tulips, hyacinths and daffodils planted in January will still manage to produce spring color.
General Garden Clean-up
The British Royal Horticultural Society recommends a winter clean-up to help eliminate places where insects, slugs, snails and disease may be over-wintering. Remove branches that have blown down during fall storms, the dead growth of herbaceous perennials and all of last summer's annuals. If the ground is damp and unfrozen, pull weeds before they start to grow again. And finally, check mulches and other protective covers to be sure they have not blown away or been damaged by wind, snow or ice.
Dream and Plan
Seed catalogs are great for whiling away gray winter days, and most gardeners are tempted to buy vastly more than they actually have the room or energy to plant. Before sending off a mega-order, it's a good idea to make a schematic drawing of the garden, more or less to scale. Sketch in the location of existing beds and large plantings. This provides a realistic idea of approximately how much room is available for new plants.
An eighty-three year old master gardener from Orcas Island, Washington recommends this approach to seed catalogs: "First, go crazy. Order everything your heart desires. it'll add up to thousands," she says. "Then, start crossing things off the list that you really can't afford, don't have space for, or lack the patience to pamper. Pretty soon you'll have a sensible, and affordable list."
Start a Garden Journal
Over the years it's easy to forget the year a tree was planted, the name of a variety, or the care instructions for a particular specimen. The Farm's Almanac recommends keeping a garden journal to record this kind of information, along with future plans for the garden, disease and pest information, and harvest records. Journals can be as simple as a ninety-nine cent composition notebook from the drug store, or as complex and expensive as a software package. Several publishers produce moderately priced garden journals, and there are at least two free journals on-line that can be downloaded.
Bleak as January can be, spring isn't far off, and there is much to be done in the garden.
