It’s winter and the holidays are behind us. Is landscaping the next task on your mind? Well, it should be. Even though it looks cold and barren outside, there are still tasks that need to be accomplished to get your landscape ready for the spring. If you are wondering what you can do in the dead of winter to prepare your landscape for the upcoming growing season, keep reading for some great January landscaping tips in New Jersey
White mulch
Don’t let clearing the snow away from your driveway and yard become a meaningless task. If you aren’t sure what to do with all the snow you are shoveling away; you can use it for your garden. Place a layer of shoveled snow on top of your perennials to act as mulch in the winter. The layer of snow will act as a protective blanket against the extreme temperatures New Jersey often experiences at this time of year. Just make sure the snow you use as mulch does not contain any salt, as that can damage delicate plants and flowers in the garden.
Carefully de-ice walkways and driveways
The substances you use to melt the ice from walkways and driveways is important, as it can have a definite effect on the living organisms in the landscape. Avoid ice-melting products that contain sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is harsh and can be harmful to the plants and flowers that are dormant during the winter. A better choice is to use products that contain calcium chloride, which is less harmful – or sand that is not harmful at all.
Repurpose your Christmas tree
The evergreen branches of your Christmas tree can act as an excellent and eco-friendly mulch for your garden. Before you take your tree to the curb for disposal after Christmas, remove as many branches as possible. Then, lay them around your rose bushes or perennials to protect them from the cold winter weather.
Start seeds indoors
The cold weather and frozen ground make it difficult to plant seeds in the winter. Further, the cold weather will prevent young seedlings from thriving and surviving until the spring. If you want to get a head start on your flower garden, start seeds indoors in the winter and then transplant them when the weather allows. This practice is particularly helpful for herbs such as parsley, tarragon, and thyme as well as flowers such as geraniums.
Create a garden journal
Since there is not much planting you can do during the winter, it is the ideal time to start a gardening journal. Take some time to leaf through magazines and books to get some ideas of how you want your garden to look. Take some notes that indicate what plants and flowers you like and where you would like them located in your landscape. It is also a good time to make some sketches of what you envision your garden looking like. Once the weather breaks, you will then be all set to start working on creating the perfect garden.
Make sure plants are protected
January can have some of the harshest weather conditions of the year. Make sure the shrubs, perennials and bulbs in your garden are adequately protected from the elements. Cover them with a tarp or plastic to keep the cold and snow away from them. Place any potted plants inside to ensure they are completely protected. If you live in an area that is affected by high winds, January is the perfect time to apply an anti-descicant spray. This spray provides a protective coating that helps plants retain the necessary moisture for them to survive.
Apply dormant oils
January is the ideal time to apply dormant oils to the garden. These oils are a safe and effective way to control pests. The oil coats certain insects and ultimately smothers them. Pesticides are often not effective at this time of year, so this is a great alternative that will have your garden pest-free when the spring blooms start to show.
Fertilize
Every once in a while, January will treat New Jersey residents with a temperate day or two. Take advantage of these days and get out in the garden. Fertilizing bulbs that will flower in the spring will help to ensure that the bulbs will transform into healthy and beautiful flowers when the spring finally arrives. Use an all-purpose fertilizer and simply follow the package instructions.
The cold weather of January does not mean that there is not work to be done for your landscape. There are still steps you can take to make sure your garden is ready to go as soon as the spring comes. If you need help with your January landscape tasks, contact a local landscaper to plan out the year ahead and be well-prepared for each season before it even arrives.
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