Even in the doldrums of winter, there are garden tasks to tackle. Find out what chores you can do now to keep your garden growing and get ready for spring.
Order Seeds for Spring + Summer
Order seeds for the new year around New Year’s Day, if not before, especially for spring crops like radishes, peas and lettuce. Everyone else has the same idea and there’s only so much seed to go around, so it’s best to be an early bird. Go ahead and order for summer, too, and take this slow time to think about your garden goals and make a plan.
Maintain Garden Tools
Spring is the busiest time for gardening, so that makes winter the perfect time to get your garden tools in shape. Hand tools should be cleaned and sharpened. Remove rust and treat handles and blades with a protective coating. Power tools like mowers, weed trimmers and blowers should also be cleaned, motors tuned up, blades sharpened, etc. For battery-powered tools, make sure to store the batteries indoors. Extreme cold temperatures can considerably shorten the battery life.
Start Seeds Indoors
Starting seeds indoors in winter helps you get a jump on your spring and summer gardening goals. Seed starting may also save you money in the long run, and, no matter your age, it’s a great way to learn about how plants grow.
Fill Bird Feeders
During the winter, birds need our help the most since they spend nearly all their time and energy seeking food, shelter and water. Plus, keeping the birdfeeders full means you can enjoy these feathered beauties out your window on gloomy winter days.
Cut Back Amaryllis
Did you get an amaryllis for Christmas? If you want to keep the bulb as a houseplant after the flowers fade, snip flower stalks at the base after the blossoms fade. Feed plants with a liquid houseplant fertilizer to encourage and nourish leaf production. Healthy leaves in spring and summer are the secret to a pretty flower display the next fall or winter. You can keep amaryllis bulbs indoors year-round or set them outdoors in spring after all danger of frost is past. Water and fertilize plants through summer.
Keep Your Poinsettia Happy
Poinsettias are ubiquitous in December, but what do you do with them in January? Keep them as houseplants. Poinsettias are a tropical plant so you can’t put it outside until the spring when nighttime temperatures are above 55 degrees F. Keep poinsettias in a sunny window away from cold drafts and water when they feel dry. Plan on moving poinsettias outside after the last frost in your area — they’ll make a nice addition to your summer porch or patio. You’ll need to cut it back to encourage new growth, then next fall move them back inside and read up on how to get them to turn red again.
Clean Out and Store Pots
If you haven’t done so already, put your pots away! Deep freezes don’t just affect plants, they can wreak havoc on containers, flowerpots and other features in your garden. Freeze and thaw cycles can crack even the hardiest containers, so empty out the soil and then move them to a shed or garage. Even better, scrub the pots clean with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water before you tuck them away for the winter. If the containers are too big to move, cover them instead with heavy plastic or bubble wrap.
Check on Overwintered Bulbs + Tubers
If you pulled tender bulbs or tubers out of the ground back in the fall — like canna, elephant ears, dahlias or caladiums — don’t forget to check them every few weeks to make sure they aren’t too dry or too wet. Inspect the bulbs and remove any rotten spots and check the moisture level. If they look too dry, have shrunk or are wrinkled, use a spray bottle to give them mist. If they are very damp, remove them from the packing material and air dry them for a few days then repack them in dry material.
Visit a Conservatory
Need gardening inspiration or looking for ways to fight the winter doldrums? Visit a botanical garden with a conservatory where you can feel summer warmth, smell tropical plantings and enjoy lush greenery. Many public gardens across the country have indoor gardens that can be enjoyed all year long. Check the public gardens in your area to see what their winter offerings are.
Excerpted from an article by Jacquelyn McGilvray for HGTV
Martha Washington Garden Club 