January Gardening

Well certainly the winter is not the best time to run outside and do some gardening. There are however plenty of gardening ideas to keep you busy in the colder months .

I like to start my search for this springs plantings now using catalogs and also the Internet to check for online nursery catalogs. There is a wealth of information and inspiration in these catalogs . When you are search you can set up a folder on your computer and copy and paste things that you are interested in so that you can research them more. You can even set up sub-folders with in your garden ideas folders to cover different subjects vegetables, annuals, perennials,trees, shrubs,water features almost anything you are interested in. This will garner you a wealth of information and ideas for your gardening efforts. The best part of all is that you will have source information and cost information right at your fingertips so that if you decide on a project you can have an idea of what it will cost you and where you can get it during the planning stage. This is great especially if you are planning major changes or are just on a tight budget.

Another thing that you can be doing in January is to get that lawnmower, rototiller, and other lawn equipment to the repair shop for tuneups and repairs. The repair shops can then have your equipment ready for you long before you need it in the spring and you can get started instead of waiting 2 or 3 weeks for it to get fixed. There is nothing more frustrating then to go to start a piece of equipment and it won’t run no matter how many times you try to start it. It will just mess up a whole days plan and your attitude. Part of the joy in gardening is that you can get some relaxation and exercise and let worries and frustrations be put aside for a while. So to avoid frustration plan ahead and have your equipment repaired before the season starts. Speaking of planning ahead if you get a few days of warm weather it may be a good idea to get the garden shed organized and put all your hand tools, pruners ,trowels, etc.. together and make it easy to find so you are not searching on that first day of gardening.

Don’t Forget A 5 Gallon Bucket It Is The Perfect Container For Holding All Your Hand Tools

I know it is hard to think about organizing things for spring when it is cold and dreary outside but you will really appreciate it latter!

Another source of great ideas is a visit to botanical gardens conservatories or garden shows. A day trip in the middle of winter is often times just the thing you need to boost your spirits. There are lots of different activities for gardeners put on by garden clubs, nurseryman’s association and other groups. You can usually Google the term garden shows for some located in your area.

Spring is only 2 month one week and 3 days away so even though it is far off it is not as far away as Christmas and for the true gardener it is probably more exciting. I know I can not drive past a home improvement store without looking for the garden center section and more than once have diverted from my mission to stop in and just browse the latest arrivals. This is truly better that Christmas and Birthdays to me. So there is something to look forward to. Just Hang In There A Bit Longer.