Mulch used as a barrier on the soil’s surface allows soil to retain moisture, entrain warmth during winter (keeps soil cooler during summer), and control weeds. (courtesy: plantperfect.com).
By: John Green, Texas Certified Expert Gardener, Orange County, TX
It seems winter has decided to grace us with her presence for an extended period of a week or longer! We are having an unusually warm season when compared with recent years passed which allows gardeners an opportunity to “dig” into landscape and gardening tasks sooner than normal. Our current weather conditions have been favorable, and the recent period of cooler temperatures has created a pleasant outdoor work environment. Cool, sunny days are a gardener’s dream, offering the perfect setting to get a jump start on the many gardening routines before warm weather arrives.
Before we know it, spring will be here. January herald’s New Year but it is a gardeners’ reminder’ to begin spring garden preparation that includes landscape clean up, tool maintenance, soil amendments, mulching, bird feeders, structured pruning, and transplanting trees.
Landscape clean-up begins by removing fallen tree limbs, excessive leaf litter, dead plants, and weeds from the landscape, garden, and flower beds. Corral the debris into a mound and allow the material to slowly decompose (compost). Using a pitchfork, turn the debris a couple times a month, to allow the composting material to ‘breathe’ helping it to decompose.
Tool Maintenance is a necessary and required task for gardeners. Sharpen, clean, and oil tools at the end of each season. Restock or replace tools which no longer function properly or have become unsafe for use. Ensuring tools and lawn equipment are always “at the ready” will save you time, especially when the tool is needed (speaking from experience). If tools need a bit of TLC, begin the process by removing soil, scrubbing with soap and water, and allowing tools to dry completely. Use sandpaper to remove rust with a light sanding. Coat with a thin layer of oil to mitigate rust returning. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand, then add used oil to the sand, and mix well. Store shovels, trowels, and other garden tools in the bucket. Occasionally dip your clippers into the sand to keep them free of grime.
Soil Amendment for flower gardens and vegetable beds require the frequent addition of organic matter, such as adding a 2 to 4-inch layer of well-composted manure. As always, my recommendation before adding amendments is to take soil samples from garden areas every couple of years and submit them to a soil lab for analysis. The cost is minimal and the lab will provide a detailed report on the soil’s composition, including the amendments needed and the amounts required to build balanced, healthy soil. Contact the local county extension office in your area for guidance on capturing soil samples.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch is used as a barrier on the soil’s surface allowing the soil to retain moisture, entrain warmth during winter (keep soil cooler during summer), and control weeds. Many times, over the years, I have stated that mulch is a gardener’s best friend! Adding a 1 to 3-inch layer of mulch on a regular frequency will effectively reduce the dreaded ‘weeding’ removal chore most gardeners detest!
Bird Feeders need thorough cleaning, as do bird baths & waterers to remove mold, mildew, algae. Discard old bird seed and wash feeders and baths with soap and water, then rinse with clean water. Allow feeders to completely dry before adding fresh bird seed. Check last year’s bird feed bag to ensure the seed remains viable for bird consumption and doesn’t harbor unwanted guests such as weevils, moths, or other pests. If pests are present, discard, and purchase fresh bird seed to fill feeders.
Planting & Sowing
Jan-Feb for cool-season crops such as Spinach, Kale, Swiss chard, Carrots, Radishes, Pak choi, Tatsoi, Mustard & Turnip greens, and planting onion sets/starts, now is a great time to sow or transplant these vegetables. Germinate seeds (start indoors): Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Melons (6-8 weeks before last frost). Wait until mid-March to April before transplanting Tomatoes and peppers, just in case we have a late frost.
Feb-March direct sow crops such as Beets, Carrots, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Scallions, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Radishes, Turnips, Daikon, Tatsoi, and Bak Choi. Plant Onions, Broccoli, Cabbage sets/ starts in March.
Cool Season Flowers direct sow hardy cool-season flowers like Pansies, Violas, Snapdragons, Larkspur, Cornflowers (Bachelor’s Buttons), Poppies, Nigella, Calendula, and Sweet Alyssum which thrive in early spring.
Structured Pruning is often required to train limbs by opening trees’ or shrubs’ canopy for better air circulation, increase sunlight penetration, while removing dead, diseased, and crossed branches, by positively impacting the growth habit. Trim dormant perennials and trees, avoid pruning spring blooming varieties.
Transplanting Trees in January is the best month for this task, due to lower environmental stressors placed on the tree. Before purchasing a tree, it is important to select the general area where the tree is to be planted. Trees require large spaces to spread out and grow. Check for underground utilities before digging! After site selection is determined, carefully read the planting instructions on the tag attached to the tree, which provides planting depth, height and canopy (width) at maturity. Example: if the tag states the tree will have a height of 30 feet and 30 feet canopy, then make certain to plant it at least 30 feet from buildings, power lines, or any other type of structure.
Note: There is a legal requirement for Texas homeowners, requiring a call prior to digging (at minimum two business days before to digging), to ensure safety and compliance. Gardeners in SETX must call 811, the “Call Before You Dig” number for locating underground utility lines (gas, electricity, water, sewer, communications) before beginning any excavation project, which includes planting trees! This will prevent injury and damage to existing utility lines by having utility companies mark utility lines with flags (or paint).
Let’s get started on our Spring gardening cleanup tasks by developing a simple plan of action before beginning any cleanup activity, to allow us to work smarter rather than harder and not try and do everything in a single weekend! We have plenty of time before spring ‘truly’ arrives to build our best vegetable and flower gardens.
So long for now fellow gardeners, let’s go out and grow ourselves a greener, more sustainable world, one plant at a time! Continue sending comments & questions: jongreene57@gmail.com.
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