Weekend Gardening: Tips for January

January 12, 2013

Here are gardening tips for the month of January from the Santa Rosa Extension Service:

Flowers

Refrigerated bulbs such as tulip, daffodil and hyacinth should be planted in prepared beds.
Start seeds of warm season flowers late this month in order to have transplants in March.
There’s still time to transplant some cool season annuals such as carnations, foxglove, pansies, petunias and snapdragons.
Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or dry form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
Finish dividing crowded perennials. Don’t wait until spring for this job.
Plant bare root roses immediately after they are purchased.

Trees and Shrubs

Plant trees and shrubs. This is an ideal time of year for transplanting larger specimens.
Plant bare root plants such as deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees.
Prune dormant shade trees, if needed.
Stick hardwood cuttings of fig, grape, honeysuckle, Althea, Catalpa, Forsythia and Wisteria.

Fruits and Nuts

Apply dormant oil spray to peach, plum, nectarine and other deciduous fruit trees. This practice is necessary when growing the stone fruits in locations along the Gulf Coast. Note: This applies to the flowering peaches and cherries since they are susceptible to the same pests as their fruiting cousins.
Plant bare root deciduous fruit trees
Prune dormant fruit trees if needed

Vegetable Garden

Start seeds of warm season vegetables late this month in order to have transplants in March.
Lime (if needed), and begin preparing vegetable gardens for the spring planting.
Cool season vegetables that can still be planted in the garden are: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radishes and turnips.
Irish potatoes can be started from January through March by planting seed pieces 3 to 4 inches deep in rows. Always purchase certified seed potatoes.

Lawns