For the First Half of the Month:
· Order seeds through catalogs to take advantage of early-bird discounts.
· Leave mulch on perennials continually; unfortunately, there are probably more cold days ahead.
· Prune ornamental plants like oak, yew, pine, juniper, and arborvitae to shape. Remove dead or unattractive parts of the tree such as branches and crotches that have crossed and sprouts or suckers growing at or near the base of the trunk. Also, remove branches broken due to winter winds and storms.
· Remove honeysuckle and other weedy vines from deciduous landscape plants.
· Watch for signs of growth from early spring bulbs, and when foliage is one-inch high, remove mulch gradually.
· Read seed packages for planting instructions. Don’t start garden plants indoors too early.
For the Second Half of the Month:
· Read gardening books to get garden/landscape ideas for spring and early summer.
· Order shrubs for spring planting.
· Order perennial plants and bulbs such as shasta daisies, gladiolus, and lilies to be used as cut flowers this summer.
· Prune grapevines while they are still dormant and use the pruned pieces to make wreaths to decorate your home or give as gifts.
· Examine houseplants. Weak, thin or soft growth may be an indication of insufficient light or high temperatures.
· Plan vegetable, perennial and herb gardens on paper. Compare last year’s notes to make improvements or adjustments in the plot size and planting locations.
