Despite January's gloomy and wet weather, there's plenty to
do in the garden. If you think it's too cold to plant, then
perhaps you're forgetting about bare-root season. Buying and
planting bare-root plants is an easier and cheaper way to establish
a garden than with plants grown in containers. Take advantage
of the opportunity. Bare-root season comes but once a year.
WHAT TO PLANT
Bare-root fruit trees: Since we live in the best fruit
growing region of the world, why not create a backyard orchard
in a corner of your yard? A wide variety of fruit trees are
available at local nurseries. Choose varieties suitable to our
climate and be sure to ask about the required chilling hours.
Our winters typically average 800 hours. Also ask about pollination
requirements, since some cultivars require a cross pollinator.
Bare-root roses: January is the perfect time to add roses
to the garden. All varieties of hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers,
miniatures, and shrubs, should be available. If you are looking
for a particular rose, then you might call around, since each
nursery carries their favorites. You could also check the internet
for vintage rose nurseries. Many are here in California and
will mail-order.
Bare-root berries: Plant cane boysenberries, blackberries,
blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Don't forget grapes
and kiwis too.
Vegetables: Artichokes, asparagus, leeks, onion sets,
seed potatoes, and rhubarb can all be planted now. Plant horseradish
but beware because it's very aggressive.
Ornamental shrubs: Clematis vines, flowering quince,
forsythia, lilacs, spireas and other bare-root perennials can
be planted now.
GARDEN CHORES
Dormant sprays: Spray roses and deciduous flowering and
fruit trees with horticultural oil to smother overwintering
insects like spider mites, scales, mealy bugs, and peach twig
borers. Spray the branches, crotches, trunk, and ground beneath
the tree's drip line. Postpone spraying if rain is forecast
or if the temperature is below 45°F. Never spray oil on
walnut trees.
If you haven't yet sprayed your peach and nectarine trees for
leaf curl, then spray trunk, branches and ground underneath
trees with a copper-based fungicide, a Bordeaux mixture, or
a synthetic fungicide.
Lawns: Take this time to do lawn equipment maintenance.
Dust off the mower, sharpen the blades, change oil and filter.
If you're mechanically challenged like me, then take it to a
small engine repair for maintenance. Bermuda lawns are dormant
now, but fescue lawns require some winter mowing. Keep fescues
thick and healthy by mowing to a 2" height. If you continually
"scalp it" then you prevent deep root development
and weeds will break through. Remember to never mow when grass
is wet or frozen.
Perennials: It's time to cut back herbs and other straggly
perennials. I leave an inch or two showing above ground, so
I don't forget where they are planted.
Pruning: Prune dormant deciduous fruit trees, roses,
grapes, and cane berries after leaf drop and before buds swell
(in other words NOW). The exception is apricots; they require
summer pruning to avoid eutypa canker disease. The absolute
worst time to prune fruit trees is right after leaves emerge
in spring because spring rains spread fungus and bacteria and
spring weather promotes their growth.
Two easy-to-find books on pruning are Sunset's "Pruning
Handbook" and Ortho's "All About Pruning". You
can also check out the University of California web site at
anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu and download articles on pruning fruit
trees.
For some tips on pruning roses plan to attend a free demonstration
in Hanford conducted by the Master Gardeners. The afternoon
sessions will begin at 1pm on Jan 24th at the Old Hanford Courthouse
and on Jan 26th at the Grangeville Museum.
Weeds: If your lawns and flowerbeds were plagued with
weeds last summer, then apply a preemergence herbicide before
Valentine's Day. Crabgrass starts germinating soon after that
date, and although you can still apply the herbicide, the weed
control will not be as effective.
Winter annuals: For a bit of color plant calendula, cyclamen,
pansies, primroses or snapdragons in a pot and place at your
front and back doors. Pinch off seedpods and faded blooms to
keep winter annuals blooming.
GET READY
Check out seed racks and catalogs for new ideas for your spring
garden. To get a head start on spring, plant seeds indoors and
place near a sunny window or under fluorescent lights. You know
you're a gardener when, leafing through plant catalogs is as
thrilling as Christmas catalogs.
