I am posting this blog in early January. Spring starts on Thursday, March 20, just over 70 days away. There are a lot of chores to do this month. For a good reason, January is National Garden Catalogue Month. The colder winter days of January are an excellent time to sit down and write down some of your plans for the upcoming spring season. Spend some quality time researching and planning your garden this spring.
- January is a good time to clean your old clay pots. To remove salt deposits, soak them in vinegar.
- Before ice forms, use a soft broom to brush snow off of plants, such as boxwoods and hollies. The weight of snow could cause damage to limbs.
- On warmer days in January, get outside and walk around your gardens. Enjoy the beauty of the shrubs and trees in their “naked” state. This exercise is also a great time to reflect on what you may want to do in spring.
- Now is a good time to clean all your gardening tools before using them in the spring. When clean and dry, sharpen shovels, hoes, pruners, and other equipment for the upcoming season with a broad file.
- Did you know that using salt products as ice melts on sidewalks and driveways can harm your bordering shrubs if the salt gets into your planting beds?
- A new terminology I learned recently is TECHNO-FERENCE. Techno-ference is allowing modern technology gadgets to interfere with our natural daily routines, in this case, allowing modern technology to interfere with our ability to connect with nature. On nicer days, leave your cell phone in the house. Take time to reconnect with nature. Listen to the birds, watch the squirrels, listen to the rustling leaves. And don’t forget to share this experience with other family members—especially children.
Happy New Year! Let’s make 2025 a memorable year in gardening. This is my one New Year’s resolution.
LET’S ALL PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS IN 2025!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!