I love gardening in January. The days are getting longer, and all the plants look happier after the rains have started.
Here are some January gardening tips to get your yard ready for the new year.
Prune and Spray Roses and Dormant Trees
Prune deciduous trees and vines, deciduous fruit trees and roses while they’re dormant. Spray them with horticultural oil to smother overwintering insects.
For roses, cut out all dead wood, crossing branches and twiggy growth. Leave five to seven strong canes. The San Diego Rose Society has a free annual rose pruning demonstration to learn and practice how to cut back roses. This year it’s on January 11 between 9:15 am and 12 pm.
Manage Weeds
With the rain come the weeds. Mulch flower and vegetable beds to keep weeds from growing. Hand pull or hoe newly emerging weeds before they have a chance to set seed. If you want to know which weeds you’re fighting and the best way to control them, UC Davis has a Weed Gallery that will help.
Plant
It’s time for bare-root planting. Look for roses, stone fruit and deciduous shade trees, strawberries and cane berries, artichoke and asparagus.
You can still plant Iceland poppies, pansies, primulas and other winter annuals along with summer bulbs and winter vegetables. If you received or forced amaryllis plants for the holidays, you can plant them in a frost-free area of your yard. It’s also a great time to look for winter-blooming succulents to brighten up your garden.
A lot of information for January Gardening Tips 2020 comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.