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Written by Sylvia Henthorn
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| Annuals |
If you have not dispersed of your dead annuals, do so now. Monitor moisture and mulch on pansies, water if they are dry. |
| Bulbs |
Try to get all spring blooming bulbs planted. After the ground freezes. Mulch to protect from thawing and freezing and to conserve moisture. |
| General |
Keep your Christmas trees fresh with plenty of water.
Gifts for the gardener abound — from plants to books to gardening tools.
Recycle your Christmas tree as a birdfeeder, fish shelter, or wildlife habitat. |
| Herbs |
Start an indoor garden. |
| Houseplants |
They still need water — even if you are busy. Continue watching for pests and disease and treat promptly. Spray with an insecticidal soap as needed. Keep your poinsettia fresh with even moisture and plenty of light. |
| Lawns |
Walking on frozen grass can cause bare spots. Use the sidewalks and paths when possible. |
| Mental Health |
Order a gardening magazine and/or new gardening catalogs. Looking at photographs of beautiful gardens in January and February is a poor gardeners’ vacation in the Bahamas. Don’t let those pictures get you so carried away that you forget to comparison shop. There can be an amazing difference in prices. |
| Perennials |
Clean up beds by cutting off dead foliage, leaving a little of the stem to help you find them next spring. Mulch to prevent heaving of plants during periods of freezing and thawing. |
| Roses |
Think about spring. Mulch and winterize. |
| Trees/Shrubs |
Water as needed, especially the new transplants. Prune evergreens and use the greens for the holiday. |
| Vegetables |
Try growing houseplants like sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, etc. to add interesting forms of greenery to your window garden. |
| Hint: |
Be on the look out for: the first good snowfall. Assemble your survival kit now! It should include a variety of teas or coffees, a soft , warm throw; a supply of garden catalogs; at least one great garden book; a nice floral or pine scented candle. Take advantage of the first winter storm. There’s no better time to nestle down into a comfy chair and imagine your garden as you want it to be. For gardeners, winter is for dreaming. |
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Forget Me Knots 