Even in winter, planning, equipment preparation, and care of trees and shrubs can help get gardeners ready for the growing season.
Planning
Finalize your vegetable and flower garden plans. Research and select the plant varieties, as well as the number of plants required for your desired harvest. Draw your plans on paper or take photographs; measure your garden plots for greater accuracy in determining the number of seeds and plants you will need. Purchase a paper notebook or a flash drive to start this year’s garden journal.
Equipment preparation
Inventory your seed-starting supplies and equipment. Based on your garden size, determine the number of seedlings you want for yourself and perhaps for family and friends. Decide if you want to use peat pots, plastic trays or other containers. Assure that you have enough seed starter medium, pots, seeds, and trays. Check your light source and replace bulbs if needed. Onions and leeks can be started in early February.
Inspect your garden tools. Decide which tools to keep, replace or donate. Research new tools that you may need. If not completed in the fall, clean tools and repair broken ones. Sharpen shears and pruners.
Take stock of your gardening accessories, such as tomato cages, labels, and containers. Repair and clean items as needed.
Look over your gardening attire. Wash or purchase new gardening gloves. Replace gloves that have holes and tatters, which can allow soil or chemicals onto your hands. Look over gardening shoes and boots and repair or replace damaged footwear. Having sturdy footwear prevents foot injuries and promotes balance while working outdoors
Indoor plants
Give your indoor house plants some much-needed attention. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth, removing any holiday dust and glitter. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, as soils tend to dry out more quickly during the winter months. Snip away dead or discolored leaves. Inspect leaves and stems for signs of insects, such as mealybugs and scale. Isolate and treat plants that appear to be infected or discard the plants in the trash.
Holiday flowering plants after-bloom care
Place poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) in bright light and keep the soil moist. Discard poinsettias that lose their leaves or show signs of insects or disease.
Pinch off spent blooms from the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera spp.) and keep this plant in bright light with moist soil.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) tubers should continue to bloom during the winter months. Avoid wetting the leaves and stems and drain away excess water to prevent tuber rot. Pluck faded flowers and leaves from the plant. New leaves and blooms may appear during the blooming cycle. Offer fertilizer every other month.
Remove the floral stalk from your amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) after the flowers have faded. Continue to water and fertilize the bulbs during the winter.
Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) bulbs can be discarded after blooming, as they are not likely to rebloom.
Outdoor wildlife and plants
Keep bird feeders full, clean and well-maintained. Note destruction from large and small animals; repair broken feeders and replace damaged feeder parts.
Walk outdoors and prune dead limbs from trees and shrubs. Take note of exposed crowns of perennials such as coral bells and push them back into the soil. On warm days, watch for honey bees, and look for hellebore flowers and blooming witch hazels!
Give alkaline-loving shrubs, such as forsythia, lilac and caryopteris, a treat by sprinkling fireplace ashes around their base. Wood ashes contain phosphorus, considerable potassium and calcium, and traces of minor elements. However, before applying wood ashes, it is best to have the results of a recent soil test and know the pH of your soil. If your pH is 7 or above, offer the ashes to a friend. According to Penn State Extension, in an unleached form (directly from the stove or fireplace), wood ashes can often do more harm than good if not properly applied. The ash’s alkalinity may raise the soil pH to a point at which other elements are unavailable. A good guideline is to apply dry, unleached wood ashes at a maximum of 3 pounds per 100 square feet of soil surface in a single season.
Inspect tree trunks for large animal and rodent damage. Assure that the plastic and wire tree trunk guards are secure. Adjust or replace dislodged or broken guards and inspect the tree trunk for damage.
Remove dead, diseased or broken tree or shrub branches. Seek assistance for removing unsafe branches near homes, buildings and electrical wires. Photograph trees’ branch structures in preparation for late winter pruning. The leafless branches afford the opportunity to evaluate overlapping branches and overall tree shape and size. Consult with an arborist, if needed.
Winter garden doldrums can be vanquished with basic plant and garden maintenance activities.
Authors
Lisa Marie Bernardo: Master Gardener, Butler County
