TIPS FOR BULBS IN JANUARY:

Plant the chilled bulbs of Triumph Tulips in the garden. 

You can find an incredible number of colorful varieties of gladioli in catalogues at this time of the year. 

Watch for signs of soft or moldy bulbs if stored over winter. If they have started to rot or decay, remove them and throw them out. (This can occur if moisture gets into storage area.) 

Plant Persian Ranunculus indoors in containers for an early show of indoor color. 






TIPS FOR FLOWERS:

If you are planning any major changes to your garden, it is best to do it now while the soil is damp; but not if the soil is still frozen or water logged. Make changes from now until early spring. 

Make a note of areas in the flower beds and in the rest of the garden, that retain water. These areas may need to have drains installed when the weather allows. 

Keep holiday plants away from small children and pets. Poinsettia leaves, and holly and mistletoe berries are not poisonous as some might suggest, but they can cause adverse reactions if eaten. 

Gently remove snow from plants. Branches will break if they get to weighed down. 

Begin planning flower borders. Sketch an outline of the border, select your plants and order them. 

Prepare soil for Dahlias. Dahlias benefit from plenty of compost and manure and this will also help soil to retain moisture. 

Check the Dahlia tubors that you have stored. Make sure they are not wet or decaying. 

Make sure that the Chrysanthemums that you have saved from last fall, have survived. (In fall, chrysanthemums can be lifted and stored in a packing of soil and compost and stored in a cold but frost free area.) 





TIPS FOR VEGETABLES:

Plant your garlic now !!! Poke 4 inch deep holes in the ground with the end of a rake and drop the Garlic clove into the hole. 

Continue to pick Brussels sprouts as their buttons become firm. 

Use a garden fork when harvesting trench celery. Gently ease it out of the ground. 

Continue to harvest leeks. Trim the roots to preserve the soil. 

Sow early cauliflowers in a greenhouse now to produce plants for transplanting outdoors in March or April. 






GENERAL YARD & GARDEN CARE:

Don't use ashes or salt to clear garden paths of ice. This could damage plants that are growing in between the slabs. 

Avoid walking in your garden if it is covered in snow. Lawn edges and plants could break. 

Cover potted plants that were left outdoors. Plastic pots will become brittle and clay pots may crack when frozen. 

Start planning for next season. Send away for seed and plant catalogues. Order seeds and seed potatoes now to avoid disappointment later. 

When planning for next season; don't give tender plants an East facing position. Early morning sun can quickly thaw and damage frozen plants. 

If your soil is not waterlogged, frozen or covered in snow, repair your fences now. If you wait until spring you may step on and damage newly emerging bulbs. It is also easy to pound stakes into the damp soil now, rather than in summer when the soil could be dry and hard. 

Don't throw out that ash if you're burning wood in the fireplace this winter! Save it until next spring then spread it in your gardens. Scatter it around your carrots, radishes and onions to keep root maggots away. It will also improve the flavor of your potatoes. Wood ash is high in potassium and will raise the pH of soil. 




TIPS FOR FRUIT & BERRIES:

Cut off sucker shoots from around the bases of apple and pear trees. 

Spray fruit trees with tar oil winter wash. Soak trees thoroughly. This will kill overwintering eggs of pests and will also help remove algae. 

Prune apple trees. Burn the branches you have pruned to avoid the spread of disease. 

Regularly inspect fruits in storage, removing any with signs of decay 






TIPS FOR LAWNS:

Avoid planting grass in a rainy season. Heavy rains can leave soil too wet, resulting in damping off, a fungal disease that can kill the seedlings. 

If you need to plant grass, do it only when you are sure the temperature will stay above freezing. 

Arrange to have the cutting blades on your lawn mower sharpened. Have all electric cables and switching gear checked. 

Shop for a new lawnmower now for the best bargains. 


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