January

Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs

Don’t forget to water!
- Winter drought can be just as severe as it is in the summer. If the ground freezes, any moisture available is inaccessible to roots.
- Pay close attention to newly planted shrubs and trees, and water weekly if there is no rainfall.
Check outdoor perennials and bulbs
- Make sure none have been pushed out of the ground by freezing/thawing weather
- Push them back underground and replace the mulch.
For camellias:
- Rake up fallen blooms to discourage camellia petal blight.
Sow seeds of larkspur, bachelor buttons and poppies now.
- You can also start seeds indoors for coleus, alyssum, impatiens, verbena, geranium and petunia.
Attack unwanted brush and vines.
- You can actually see what you're doing and mosquitoes and ticks are off duty.

Camellia japonica 'Tama Vino'

Eliminate hard to mow spaces like sharp angles of bed borders to decrease lawn maintenance.
- Adding ground cover to connect individual trees and shrubs can create an attractive, larger bed.
Avoid heavy traffic on dormant lawns
- Dry grass is easily broken and the crown of the plant may be severely damaged or killed.

Prune fruit trees and woody ornamentals that bloom on new growth, such as althea, buddleia, crepe myrtle, hydrangea and vitex.
- Do not prune spring-bloomers until just after they've bloomed, and remember to follow proper pruning techniques.
Remove dead, diseased or storm-damaged limbs.
Protect broadleaf evergreens with blankets or burlap (never plastic) during periods of extreme cold.
- Fertilize them in winter or early spring before growth begins.
Protect borderline hardy plants, like aucuba, camellia and gardenia, by a mound of soil or compost over the crown if the ground surface freezes.
Remember when choosing the location of new shrubs or trees, spots that are sunny in the garden now may be shady in the spring or summer.

Turn and prune houseplants regularly to keep them shapely.
Don't over-water; wait until the soil surface is dry.
Place plants on shallow trays lined with pebbles and filled with water to increase humidity around plants. Most houses are very dry in the winter.
Keep winter fertilizing to a minimum as plant growth has considerably slowed.

Feed the birds regularly
- They like suet, fruit, nuts, and bread crumbs as well as bird seed.
Keep the birdbath free of ice and continue adding fresh water every week.
Try different deterrents to see what works best if deer are eating your plants:
- See this resource from NC State.
Toss rubber balls into the water garden to prevent icing over.