Gardening Checklist For January In The Pacific Northwest
So what to do in the garden in January largely depends on the weather. And for those gardeners with mild weather in January, here is a list garden tasks suitable for mid winter.
On south Vancouver Island (plant hardiness zones 8 and 9) our mid winters can range from having high wind storms, heavy rain, wet snow, or super mild conditions. Generally our daytime temperature is around 7C (44F) but there are recorded highs of 14C (57F) and lows of -12C (10F). In other words, our coastal Pacific Northwest can be very unpredictable. But it does not hinder our anticipation as we are always eagerly looking for signs of spring from hellebores flowers and emerging snowdrops and crocuses in the garden. And our eagerness to get back to the garden always starts with our gardening checklist and planning for spring and summer.
SEE MORE: Winter Garden Highlights
What To Do In The Garden Mid Winter
- Check stored dahlia tubers and any flowering bulbs for rot and ensure they are not drying out. A little sprinkle of water if they appear dry.
- Track any potential problems in your garden, such as drainage or waterlogged areas and damaged shrubs or trees. Keep notes for adjusting the site later in spring and summer.
- Order your seeds! Spring and summer flowering plants can be started indoors.
- Check overwintering plants such as half-hardy (semi-hardy) fuchsias and make sure they are not getting too dry. And look out pests or diseases that may be present.
- Check and water any sheltered plants in containers sheltering under the roof overhang.
- Make sure your bird feeder is filled and that seeds are not getting wet and moldy.
- Begin clearing away areas around herbaceous perennials and remove any remaining old stems.
- Check your garden centre for new winter flowering plants to add to your garden such as hellebore.
- Keep removing any persistent perennial weeds.
- If not too wet, start preparing new garden beds and borders.
- Order your garden and vegetable organic compost and topsoil.
- Tidy up the shed and garden tools, and clean pots and seed trays to start seeding indoors.
- Start planning your garden jobs such as fence repair and paving stones.
RELATED TOPIC: Buyer’s Guide On How To Choose Hand Pruners (Secateurs)
Pruning And Plant Maintenance Mid Winter
- Prune shrubs and trees during the dormancy stage. Remove dead, diseased, and damaged wood. Some shrubs benefit from annual pruning in mid-winter.
- Contract an arborist for hard to reach trees that need control pruning.
- Dormant ferns and ornamental grasses with leaves that have died over winter can be trimmed back before new spring growth emerges, such as Western Maidenhair or Five-Finger Maidenhair Fern.
- If mild sunny days are forecasted, apply dormant oil spray on trees or shrubs susceptible to overwintering pests or powdery mildew problems.
RELATED TOPIC: Buyer’s Guide On How To Choose A Pruning Saw
Lawn Care During Mid Winter
- If your lawn is not covered in snow, review areas that may need restoring in early spring.
Kitchen Gardens in January
- Start planning what you will grow in your edible garden and begin your order for seeds if you have not already done so.
- Winter prune fruit trees such as figs, peaches, pears and apples.
- Apply dormant oil spray on fruit trees for disease and pest control.
- Harvest any winter vegetables.
