JANUARY ............................Average Daily Temp: 48 - Average rainfall: 4.5in.
PLANT any shrubs and trees. Plant material may come from the nursery in pots, wrapped soil or bare root. If bare root, do not allow root area to dry out. Watering is important even in winter; give all newly planted material a good soaking. Seeds: plant perennials such as hollyhock, coreopsis, larkspur, delphinium, forget-me-not, four o'clock, stock, phlox, coneflower, shrimp plant, Queen Ann's lace and bluebonnet. Plant annuals: sweet william (dianthus), nicotinia, petunia, sweet allysum, pansies, snapdragons, calendula, gerbera daisy, verbena, violets, wallflowers and dusty miller. For faster growth, plant spring seeds indoors (to transplant in March, after last frost).
DIVIDE: Shasta daisies, coneflower and coreopsis and plant in sunny locations. Iris, lilies and agapanthus may be divided but dividing this late may inhibit blooms next Spring.
ROSES: Dig up, wash roots, root prune and transplant to new location if more sun, less sun, better drainage, etc. is needed. Cottonseed meal and a level tablespoon of Epsom salts should be scratched into bottom of hole before planting. Water in well. Wait 2 days; water well again. Begin weekly water schedule.
PROPAGATION: January and February are good months to propagate trees, shrubs, roses and hardy perennials. Almost any hardwood cutting will root in light sandy loam or a mixture of peat moss and perlite. Prepare 6 inch pots with above media. Insert a straight stick or pencil into the dampened media. Remove. Set aside. Rinse several 2 liter plastic pop or juice bottles. Cut off bottoms. Using sterilized pruning shears, cut several pencil sized, year old "sticks" from the mother plant. Holding the stick with growth buds pointing upward ( if roses, thorns must point downward), dip into Root-on or other anti-fungus hormone material, shake off excess and place in prepared pot. Water well. Place 2 liter plastic bottle over top of pot, wedging in to steady and place pot on east side of house or building. Do not allow to dry out. If severely cold (under 32 degrees), screw top of pop bottle on until weather warms. Transplant to bigger pots in about 10 weeks, using regular potting soil. Feed LIGHTLY with Miracle-Gro or Osmocote. Keep moist. Move to permanent location the following Spring.
SPRAY: Camellias and holly with Dormant Oil (temperature should be over 40 degrees/under 80). Rake up spent blooms on camellias/sasanquas. Destroy.
FEED: All established spring blooming trees, shrubs and perennials now with 8-8-8 or 13-13-13.
For organic maintenance, see Howard Grant, the Dirt Doctor at http://www.dirtdoctor.com
DIVIDE: Shasta daisies, coneflower and coreopsis and plant in sunny locations. Iris, lilies and agapanthus may be divided but dividing this late may inhibit blooms next Spring.
ROSES: Dig up, wash roots, root prune and transplant to new location if more sun, less sun, better drainage, etc. is needed. Cottonseed meal and a level tablespoon of Epsom salts should be scratched into bottom of hole before planting. Water in well. Wait 2 days; water well again. Begin weekly water schedule.
PROPAGATION: January and February are good months to propagate trees, shrubs, roses and hardy perennials. Almost any hardwood cutting will root in light sandy loam or a mixture of peat moss and perlite. Prepare 6 inch pots with above media. Insert a straight stick or pencil into the dampened media. Remove. Set aside. Rinse several 2 liter plastic pop or juice bottles. Cut off bottoms. Using sterilized pruning shears, cut several pencil sized, year old "sticks" from the mother plant. Holding the stick with growth buds pointing upward ( if roses, thorns must point downward), dip into Root-on or other anti-fungus hormone material, shake off excess and place in prepared pot. Water well. Place 2 liter plastic bottle over top of pot, wedging in to steady and place pot on east side of house or building. Do not allow to dry out. If severely cold (under 32 degrees), screw top of pop bottle on until weather warms. Transplant to bigger pots in about 10 weeks, using regular potting soil. Feed LIGHTLY with Miracle-Gro or Osmocote. Keep moist. Move to permanent location the following Spring.
SPRAY: Camellias and holly with Dormant Oil (temperature should be over 40 degrees/under 80). Rake up spent blooms on camellias/sasanquas. Destroy.
FEED: All established spring blooming trees, shrubs and perennials now with 8-8-8 or 13-13-13.
For organic maintenance, see Howard Grant, the Dirt Doctor at http://www.dirtdoctor.com