As winter settles in, many gardeners are already dreaming of the warmer days of spring when their gardens come to life once again. January offers a great opportunity to plan and prepare for the upcoming growing season. By taking a few simple steps now, you can ensure a healthy, vibrant garden when the weather warms up. Here are some essential gardening tips to help you get started this month.

General Garden Tips:

• Tool Maintenance: January is a great time to check on your gardening tools and make sure they’re ready for the busy growing season ahead. Sharpen any cutting tools such as pruners or shears, and change the oil in any motorized garden equipment like lawnmowers or tillers. Well-maintained tools will make your gardening tasks much easier when spring arrives.
• Soil Preparation: If your soil test results indicated that lime should be added, now is the perfect time to do so. Lime takes several months to adjust the pH of your soil, so adding it now will allow it to work before the planting season begins. Just be sure to follow the recommendations from your soil test to avoid over-applying.

Lawn Care:

• Weed Control: Although it may seem like winter has brought a break from weeds, winter weeds like wild garlic and chickweed can still cause problems. On a mild day, apply a broadleaf herbicide to control these pesky plants. Be sure to read and follow the instructions on the label to achieve the best results.
• Minimize Lawn Traffic: Dormant lawns are more vulnerable to damage, so avoid heavy foot traffic. Walking on the grass can damage or even kill the crown of the grass plants, hindering their recovery when warmer weather arrives.

Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers:

• Winter Blooms: While many plants are resting, several winter-blooming perennials such as hellebores, rosemary, and camellias are still showing off their vibrant flowers. Take time to enjoy these hardy plants, as they can add color and life to your garden during the colder months.
• Mulch Your Landscape Beds: With plants mostly dormant and less foliage around, January is a great time to add mulch to your landscape beds. Mulching helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature, which is beneficial for plants when the growing season begins.
• Camellia Care: Winter-flowering camellias (Camellia japonica) will start to bloom in January. These beautiful flowers bring a burst of color to your garden, but it’s important to keep an eye on fallen blossoms. Rake up and dispose of any spent flowers, as leaving them on the ground can encourage petal blight, a fungal disease that can disfigure future blooms.

Conclusion:

January may be a quieter time in the garden, but it’s also an essential time for preparation. By maintaining tools, preparing the soil, controlling weeds, and caring for winter-blooming plants, you’ll set yourself up for a productive and successful gardening season. Take advantage of these tips this month, and you’ll be ready for the growing season when spring arrives.

Stay tuned next week for more gardening advice to help you through the winter months and listen to WFMC 105.7 every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM for more tips with Jessica Strickland the Agriculture Extension Agent, specializing in horticulture for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.

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