By BECKY LYNCH | Palo Pinto County Master Gardener Association
From a gardening perspective, the end of the year can seem to be relatively mundane. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, garden activities seem less important.
In Texas, the gardening season begins Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31, so there is always something to do. Winter begins in December and can last until March.
Here are some gardening activities that can, and should, be done in January.
• Plant some trees. Local nurseries have a good selection of trees during winter.
• Water as needed if month is dry.
• Prune oak trees this month if needed.
• Feed and water birds.
• Prune trees of dead wood. Remove mistletoe throughout the month.
• Remove dead plants from garden and beds.
• Add organic material to improve soil.
• Plant bluebonnet transplants into beds by the end of the month.
• Feed pansies and other winter annuals.
• Prune summer flowering shrubs by the end of the month.
• DO NOT prune spring flowering shrubs until after bloom.
• Begin tomato and pepper seeds indoors.
• Start a compost pile.
• Plant container roses and begin to train climbing roses.
• Prune dormant fruit trees by the end of the month.
• Begin to make plans for new spring flower beds and/or add drip irrigation to existing beds.
• Look through seed catalogs and order right away. Time spent in armchair gardening will pay off in improved plant selection.
• Sow seeds in flats or containers to get a jump on plant growth before hot weather arrives.
• Water foliage plants as well as container plants only when needed.
For more information on any topic listed here you may contact the Palo Pinto County Agriculture Extension office at (940) 659-1228.
Aggie Horticulture – aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu – is the essential website for Texas gardeners. There are many links within the site to find out more information on the many aspects of Texas gardening.
“From a Gardening Perspective” is a new column for the Index, with contributors from the Palo PInto County Master Gardener Association. The Texas Master Gardener Program consists of community volunteers who are interested in horticulture. They are trained by the TexasAgrilife county extension agriculture agents.
The program provides extensive training in many phases of gardening, and in doing so, enhances the quality of life in local communities across the state.
The Palo Pinto County Master Gardeners have contributed volunteer hours to several county projects. For more information on the local Master Gardener Program, call the Extension office at (940) 659-1228.
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