Did you know there are around 18.3 million US households doing full-fledged gardening? This shows the widespread popularity of gardening and how it has easily become a favorite activity, especially during the pandemic era. However, gardening requires constant effort and patience throughout all seasons, and January gardening brings with it a whole lot of opportunities, both indoors and outdoors.
Let’s take a look at some January gardening pro tips.
The Weather Condition in January
The month of January brings different opportunities for different areas.
For instance, those living in the south receive relief from the all-year-round heat and finally see their plants and pots get that much-needed moisture. On the other hand, those living in colder regions take a step back from outdoor gardening.
Such an off-season provides the perfect opportunity to dream about all the plants that are to be planted soon.
#1 Clean Out the Mess
A garden can turn into a messy mini jungle pretty quickly. Therefore, it’s important to clean it on various occasions. Especially during January, as the fall and winter seasons lead to dead leaves piling up and decaying branches here and there.
Walk around and look for dead branches and bushes, and cut away anything that has been damaged by the cruel cold.
Furthermore, in case you’re living in an area that is usually covered in snow, one of the January gardening tips is to look for salt residue (efflorescence). If found on bushes, clean it off before it damages the plants.
#2 Plan Out Your January Gardening
The cold weather of January allows one to sit around and plan hard about one’s garden. As one is not consecutively sowing seeds, January is the perfect time to plan for the upcoming weeks and months. This planning can involve thinking about which category of plants to grow, and where they should be planted.
Around January, depending on the area you live in, seed catalogs will start to be mailed to your mailbox, helping you in making effective decisions.
#3 Evaluate the Current Garden Condition
Before making plans, it’s important to have a complete look over the current state of your garden in January.
It’s recommended to walk around your garden and look for any possible issues or improvements. Besides, one can always go for more environmentally friendly options which could include recyclable fertilizers.
Furthermore, there are plenty of ways to save energy or compost. Hence, regard this downtime as the best opportunity for such decisions.
#4 Check Plants for Pests
January gardening may be the time for some pest issues, especially for the indoor plants that you have.
Due to the harsh weather conditions, indoor plants can be infected by bugs pretty easily. Insects like mealybugs, fungus, spider mites, and scales can easily find their way into the houseplants that you own.
As the holidays recently passed, many of us may have received office plants as Christmas gifts. Therefore, it’s important to prevent pests from being transported with the new plants.
#5 Don’t Throw Away the Christmas Tree
January gardening can be tricky. However, there are a bunch of resources at hand that we don’t even realize can be a big help.
The Christmas tree shoved back into the basement can be used for a much better purpose. It can work perfectly as a natural bird feeder joint. How do you do this? String the Christmas tree with edible garlands and ornaments. During winter, such food tidbits will come in handy for visiting birds.
Indoor January Gardening — Other Tips
It’s never too late to have for yourself a bunch of herbs for the summer. Many herbs can be easily grown indoors; hence, providing a perfect opportunity to indulge in some gardening in January. This indoor herb garden can thrive even in the harshest of weather.
Among other January gardening tips, washing the dust off your houseplants regularly is highly recommended. Doing this will allow the plants to absorb whatever is left of the January sun and result in better growth. Make sure to frequently brush off snow from trees and shrubs.
Plants to Grow In January
Even with the harsh weather and snow, many plants can survive and thrive in the cold January breeze. And these plants are:
- Amaryllis: This plant brings the perfect pop of color when everything is dulled by the dark winter weather.
- Beans and Peas: Snap peas, snow peas, and English peas can survive in the worst weather conditions. Hence perfect for gardening in January.
- Leafy Greens: Lettuce, arugula, and chard can be planted throughout winter.
- Snowdrops: There’s nothing better to bring color and brightness to your garden than a bunch of snowdrops. These delicate-looking plants will bring life to your garden. Snowdrops and other bulbs are just great for winter gardening.
- Asparagus: To get the best results when it comes to asparagus which is a perennial, they should be planted in January while the plants are dormant, so that their long term beds have time to establish themselves.
Gardening in January is Tricky yet Fruitful
As mentioned above, there’s a whole range of plants and vegetables that can be easily grown in the jarring winter weather.
With the right tools at one’s disposal, January gardening can even turn into fun little tasks that will prove to be bountiful throughout the year, especially in the cases of vegetables and herbs.
Therefore, don’t be deterred by the snow-clad bushes. Equip yourself with the most effective tools out there and have a garden of your dreams.
