•
Make a growing chart to determine where and when you need to plant. •
Organize your seed packets (not only your flowers, remember vegetables
and herbs too) for your sowing schedule.
•
Spring will be here before you know it, so get those pruners and loppers
sharpened.
•
Graft pecans over entire state and start grafting camellias in south
Alabama.
•
Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees for
propagation.
•
Prune branches of forsythia for indoor forcing.
•
Check the cold frame for signs of trouble. On warm, sunny days, vent the
cold frame.
•
Check stored bulbs and tubers for signs of damage or rot. Discard any
that are bad. For
dahlias, cut out the bad spots, then dust with sulphur. Store in
vermiculite or sawdust.
•
Organize pots, soil, heating mats, and lights for growing from seed.
•
Clean yard of any downed or broken branches. Tie any vines or climbers
that have come loose from their supports.
•
Make flower and vegetable garden plans now before the rush of spring
planting. Time
spent in armchair gardening before the fireplace will pay off in
improved plant selection.
•
The life of the plant received as a Christmas gift can be prolonged with
proper care. Keep the
soil moist, but provide drainage so that excess moisture can flow from
the pot. Keep the plant out of range of heating ducts and away from
heating units. Keep in a cool room at night, preferably at 60 to 65
degrees F.
•
If you’ve procrastinated on tool care, now is the time to make sure
the mower is serviced and other tools are clean and sharp.
•
Propagate split-leaf philodendrons and other leggy indoor plants by
air-layering.
•
Check houseplants for insects and repot root-bound plants.
•
Make sure indoor plants are receiving enough light with the shorter days
and low sun angle.
•
Houseplants will enjoy a "shower" to clean off leaves. Place
plants into a bathtub or on a porch and gently spray with lukewarm
water. Clean off leaves of large plants with a damp soft cloth. To
clean plants with felty leaves, such as African violets, use a
small brush and brush off leaves – do not clean leaves with
water.
•
Catch up on garden reading and incorporate a few new ideas into this
year’s plan.
•
Start a gardening journal for the new year. Wire coil sketchbooks work
well for notes, planning, ideas, germination times, and results. You’ll
enjoy it next winter when you plan the next season’s garden and
appreciate the wealth of accurate information.
•
Feed the birds! |