JANUARY IN THE GARDEN

The almanac

„ Average temperatures: High 72; low 50

„ Rainfall: 2.43 inches

„ Florida Arbor Day: Jan. 21

The moon

1. Moon phases for January

„ New moon: Jan. 2

„ First quarter: Jan. 9

„ Full moon: Jan. 17

„ Last quarter: Jan. 25

2. Moon-sign planting dates

„ Plant above-ground crops: 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17

„ Plant below-ground crops: 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30

„ Control weeds: 4, 5, 13, 14, 31

„ Prune trees and shrubs: 1, 8, 9, 18, 19, 27, 28

Time to plant

3. Flowers: Alyssum, baby’s breath, calendula, California poppy, cleome, candytuft, carnation, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, gaillardia, geranium, godetia, hollyhock, Iceland poppy, lobelia, nasturtium, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, Shasta daisy, statice, stock and sweet pea.

4. Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion sets, peas, potatoes, radicchio, radishes, roquette, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips.

5. Herbs: Anise, bay laurel, cardamom, chives, coriander, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme and watercress.

6. Bulbs: African iris, Asiatic lilies, amaryllis, blood lilies, bulbine, crinum, daylilies, Louisiana iris, society garlic, spider lilies, rain lilies, refrigerated Dutch iris, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for forcing.

Lawn care

7. Lack of rain in many areas has stressed lawns; water as permitted to keep the turf alive.

8. Once-a-week watering is the rule and normally adequate at this time of the year.

9. Continue to mow growing turf to keep a uniform look and control weeds.

10. Feeding time is over until late winter for lawns.

11. Try regreening yellow lawns with an iron or minor nutrient application if needed.

12. Tan circular spots in lawns are likely due to brown patch, also known as large patch, a fungus.

13. Brown-patch affected lawns should recover; apply a fungicide to prevent further damage.

14. Areas of chinch-bug activity are often found in lawns; treat as needed.

15. Control patches of persistent winter weeds with a selective herbicide for your lawn type.

16. Many warm season weeds are turning brown; remove and resod these areas.

17. Fill bare spots with sod or plugs; delay seeding of permanent grass until spring.

18. Ryegrass can be seeded to temporarily regreen brown turf or fill bare areas.

19. Limit turf to what’s needed for family play and enjoyment.

20. Turn sprinklers off prior to freezing weather.

21. Perform annual maintenance on lawn-care equipment.

Landscape chores

22. Shrubs often show the stress of dry weather; water as permitted every week or two.

23. Replant declining flower beds and planters with hardy cool-season selections.

24. Container gardens are a good way to enjoy plants in the landscape.

25. Add hanging baskets of color where they can be easily seen.

26. Feed container gardens weekly if needed for growth; in-ground annual plantings monthly.

27. Annuals and perennials need watering one or more times a week.

28. Check mulch layers and top-dress as needed to conserve water.

29. Winter is a good time to add hardy trees, shrubs and vines to the landscape.

30. Make sure root balls are moist at planting time; add a berm to direct water through root balls.

31. New trees, shrubs and vines need frequent hand watering to keep their root balls moist.

32. Leaves are falling from trees and shrubs; use as mulch or add to the compost pile.

33. January is a good time to begin yearly pruning of trees and shrubs.

34. Trim dead or declining portions from trees and shrubs.

35. Schedule major tree trimming now to be ready for severe 2022 weather.

36. Crape-myrtle grooming can begin this month; remove only the seed heads and small twigs.

37. Remove dead fronds and old seed heads from palms, but keep the good green leaves.

38. Groom landscapes by edging beds and walkways.

39. Divide and replant perennials.

40. Learn what plants need winter protection; many benefit from the cold.

41. Only protect cold-sensitive plants from frosts and freezes.

42. Thick fabric covers secured to the ground are the best cold protection.

43. Turn off automatic irrigation systems during freezing weather.

44. Install micro-sprinklers to conserve water and water only where needed.

45. Catch and store rainwater to use with container and landscape plantings.

46. Reduce landscape maintenance by planting fewer annuals and more perennials.

47. Groom hanging baskets and planters by removing old flowers and lanky stems.

48. Protect orchids and tropical foliage plants from temperatures below 45 degrees.

49. Test soil acidity in azalea, philodendron and ixora plantings and adjust if needed.

50. Turn Christmas trees into wildlife feeders or mulch for the landscape.

51. Dig and move trees and shrubs from one area of the landscape to another.

52. Repair gardening equipment.

53. Place birdhouses, feeders and baths in the landscape.

54. Add ornaments including statuary, a gazing ball or a sundial to the landscape.

55. Repair wooden benches, tables and chairs.

Vegetable, fruit gardening

56. Fall was a tough season for warm-weather plantings; remove and plant cool-season types.

57. Make plantings of potatoes from seed pieces available at garden centers.

58. Feed winter vegetables and herbs every 3 to 4 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer.

59. Lightly mulch gardens to keep the soil moist, control weeds and keep edibles dirt free.

60. Start seeds of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in early January for March transplants.

61. Prepare spring planting sites by adding lots of organic matter to sandy soils.

62. Encourage pollinators to visit by planting clusters of flowers among vegetables.

63. Save shipping charges; locate seeds, bulbs and transplants locally.

64. Store saved seeds in the refrigerator in a sealed container until planting time.

65. Add bird netting to strawberry plantings.

66. Caterpillars are common cool-season pests; control by handpicking or natural sprays.

67. Harvest herbs and start new plants to have a continual supply.

68. Pruning time has arrived for apple, grape, peach, pear and fig plantings.

69. Plant hardy fruit trees, shrubs and vines.

70. An acid soil is needed for blueberry production; have your soil tested before planting.

Indoor, foliage plant care

71. Live plants make the indoors attractive and help purify the air.

72. Cactus and succulents are being rediscovered as low-maintenance indoor plants.

73. Check out new lighting systems that make it easier to grow plants indoors.

74. Enjoy holiday plants as long as they remain attractive; as they decline, move them outdoors.

75. Keep existing plants a lot longer by giving them at least weekly care.

76. Check foliage plants brought indoors from the landscape for pests.

77. Use a mild soapy solution to wash indoor foliage to remove dust and control pests.

78. Trim off yellow leaves and declining flower stalks.

79. Move declining plants into the higher light levels.

80. Water foliage plants when the soil dries to the touch.