Now is the time to mulch, prune and plant

January begins a bit on the soggy side, garden soil saturated, creeks filled to the brim. When gazing out the kitchen window toward a damp landscape of bright green grass and barren fruit trees, it is hard to get motivated to get out to garden. But, there is much to be done as bright days are always on the way.

Here is what to consider: Mulch: The best thing you can do this now is mulch to keep weeds at bay and protect garden soil. If you have not done so already, apply rice straw mulch to bare vegetable beds.

Mini bark mulch makes shrub and perennial beds quite attractive, even in the winter.

Prune: Now is the time to begin pruning fruit trees, roses and berries. Clean, sharp pruning tools make quick work of this winter chore.

Feed: Feed citrus with a dash of iron along with a 4-4-4 natural fertilizer to keep leaves green and flowers coming in the spring.

Protect: This time of year it is always necessary to have a blanket of row cover on hand for the extra frosty winter nights. Citrus and young cool season vegetable starts out in the garden benefit from this covering when temperatures plunge down to the 20s and low 30s.

Dormant spray: When the weather turns to mild, clear afternoons, take advantage of this and spray roses and fruit trees with dormant spray. Neem oil is good for overwintering insects and mites. Liquid

copper sprays are good for disease prevention.

Plant: Bare root fruit trees, roses and berries arrive at local nurseries this month. Also, it’s time to plant asparagus, bare root artichoke and rhubarb.

Terry Kramer is the site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. Contact her at terrykramer90@gmail.com.