Gardening Calendar

Ornamentals

• To reduce injury, allow ice to melt naturally from plants. Attempting to remove ice may damage plants further.
• Use sand, bird seed, sawdust or vermiculite to gain traction on icy paths. Avoid salt or ice melters as these may injure plants.
• Weeks 2-3: Sow pansy seeds indoors now.

• To clean heavily encrusted clay pots, scrub them with a steel wool pad after they have soaked overnight in a solution consisting of one gallon of water, and one cup each of white vinegar and household bleach.
• Allow tap water to warm to room temperature before using on houseplants.
• Insecticidal soap sprays can be safely applied to most houseplants for the control of many insect pests.
• Wash the dust off of houseplant leaves on a regular basis. This allows the leaves to gather light more efficiently and will result in better growth.
• Weeks 1-2: Quarantine new gift plants to be sure they do not harbor any insect pests.
• Weeks 2-4: Amaryllis aftercare:
  • Remove spent flowers after blooming.
  • Set the plant on a bright sunny window to allow the leaves to develop fully.
  • Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy.
  • Fertilize occasionally with a general purpose houseplant formulation.

• Make a resolution to keep records of your garden this year.
• Store wood ashes in sealed, fireproof containers. Apply a dusting around lilacs, baby’s breath, asters, lilies and roses in spring. Do not apply to acid-loving plants. Excess ashes may be composted.
• Check all fruit trees for evidence of rodent injury to bark. Use baits or traps where necessary.
• Cakes of suet hung in trees will attract insect-hunting woodpeckers to your garden.
• Week 1: Christmas tree boughs can be used to mulch garden perennials.
• Week 1: If you didn’t get your bulbs planted before the ground froze, plant them immediately in individual peat pots and place the pots in flats. Set them outside where it is cold and bury the bulbs under thick blankets of leaves. Transplant them into the garden any time weahter permits.