Garden Calendar: January

As the calendar flips to January in the Pacific Northwest, the garden may seem quiet, but there's plenty to tackle in this cool, crisp season. Here are some suggested tasks to kickstart the gardening year:

Recycle Your Christmas Tree: Snip the limbs from your festive fir and give your garden a cozy gift. Pile these branches atop borderline hardy perennials to provide that extra insulation layer they'll appreciate.

Pruning Time: Grab those pruning shears and give larch trees, fruit trees, and grapevines some attention. It's prime time to prune and shape them for the flourishing months ahead.

Check on Indoor Bulbs: If you've stashed flower bulbs indoors for the winter, it's check-up time! Ensure they're not rotting or shriveling. If they're looking parched, a gentle spray might revive them. Keep an eye on their progress over the next few days.

Protective Sprays: Give your fruit trees and vulnerable ornamentals some TLC. Spray them with lime sulfur and/or dormant oil as needed. Be vigilant with the timing—read those labels carefully. And remember, only spray if the weather forecasts promise no rain or freezing temperatures in the next 24 hours.

Dreaming of Spring: Cozy up indoors and dive into garden catalogs. Make a wish list of plants you'd love to see bloom in your garden come spring. Don't forget to jot down the decorative annuals and vegetable seeds you're eager to sow for the year ahead.

January may seem like a quiet time in the garden, but these tasks set the stage for a thriving and vibrant garden as the seasons change. So, grab those tools, plan your blooms, and embrace the tranquility of the winter garden—it's where the groundwork for an incredible year begins.