Here are the things to do for your garden in January! Taken from the Ontario Master Gardener Calendar by John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario. Please contact John for more information, or to purchase a copy of the calendar of the full year’s tips.
January 2021
- Inspect houseplants for white flies, spider mites and aphids.
- Apply insecticidal soap and spray with water.
- Inspect spring bulbs in storage. Discard soft or mouldy ones.
- There has been lots of snow, but if there is a thaw and the snow melts away, mound any remaining snow over roses and tender perennials. It’s the freeze/thaw cycle that kills the plants.
- Cut the limbs off of your now discarded, natural Christmas tree and put them over tender perennials to catch the snow for added protection.
- Expand personal knowledge through on-line courses and catalogues, etc.
- Think about and start planning your garden for next spring.
- Make detailed lists; BIG projects, regular maintenance, new plants to buy, plants to donate to the St. George’s Plant Sale June 5 or 12 2021.
- Google “Seed Catalogue Websites” and see hundreds of seed sources.
- Order flower and vegetable seeds. Decide which seeds should be started inside.
- If you can find them, try forcing amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus for indoor winter bloom.
- At the end of the month, start the slowest germinating seeds like begonias and geranium, also seeds for early spring bloom e.g., pansy, verbena, alyssum and dianthus.
- Pick up some Triple-19 agricultural fertilizer at the CO-OP in Markdale or Dundalk. This is the strong agricultural fertilizer to put on top of the snow on your flower beds (not your lawns) in March, before the snow has melted. It will fertilize your flower gardens all summer long.
Beaver Valley Probus Club