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January Tasks for a Great Garden This Spring
Clay soil can be amended to become a great garden loam.
Hollyhocks, though true taproot plants, can be transplanted in their first few weeks after germination.
The excitement of the holidays is quickly fading, and it is time to undo the decorations that went up just a month ago. During January, a month of anticlimactic adjustments to the holiday hoopla, many gardeners assume that their work is finished until the spring. This is true if you took the time to winterize your landscape; however, if the drama of the holidays left your landscape lacking, there is still time to ensure your garden is great this year. Here are a few important tasks that should be done to ensure a happy healthy landscape in spring.
Soil Management
The most important aspect of successful gardening is proper soil management. Soil is responsible for anchoring our plants, providing most moisture and virtually all nutrients. In the Washington area we have very high clay content in our soils, and many times the clay gets a negative rating.
Bulbs like daffodils have contractile roots that help pull them deeper to assure survival.
Clay soil, however, is not all bad. It is loaded with micronutrients that are essential to plant health, and clay soil retains water longer than sandy soil. What we must do is supplement our clay soils with organic materials to help its absorption of those micronutrients. Adding compost to your garden each year helps to ensure that your plants are being properly nourished. A byproduct of adding organic compost to your clay soil is that you will be improving the workability of the soil by reducing its density. Remember to make sure the soil is not frozen when adding compost, and only work it into the top 3 to 4 inches of earth so you do not destroy the roots of your dormant plants.
Leaf Removal
Leaf removal is an important aspect to soil health. Once broken down, leaves can provide great compost for your soil; however, raw leaves rob the soil of nitrogen and are not good for soil health. Leaves need nitrogen and bacteria to aid their decomposition. When you pile them on your plants, your garden is not receiving needed nutrients. Leaves can also, if piled thickly, block the air circulation that is vital to a healthy soil. So get out there and remove those fresh leaves from you garden beds.
Mulch
Mulching your plants with a few inches of shredded hardwood mulch is the best way to protect your soil in the winter months. It helps retain moisture, protects plants from root damage due to heaving and adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. Try to avoid colored mulch since it is colored with a dye that has to go somewhere when it fades. Unless you feel that your soils will benefit from added color, hardwood mulch is the best choice. The fine pine mulch is also a good choice for your acid-loving plants.
Divide or Move Plants
Winter is a great time to transplant a tree or shrub. Since the plants are dormant, they will have less transplant shock and have a greater chance of surviving. Try to take as much of the root ball as possible when transplanting your tree or shrub. Most perennials, like hosta and black eyed Susans, are clump forming, so it is good to divide them during the transplant process. It also helps to know what type of root system your plant has before transplanting. Knowing what you have will help you in deciding when and how to transplant.
When in doubt consult your local nursery for advice. Many nurseries now have fact sheets on the most popular plants, and most employ a staff member who can provide you with information.
There are four basic types of roots:
- Fibrous roots. Plants like azaleas and rhododendrons are fibrously rooted. These roots form a dense mat-like structure, and the plants are usually shallow rooted.
- Fleshy or coarse roots. These roots are thick and generally poorly branched with only a few fibrous roots. To promote survival of a coarse root plant, it is better to root prune it during the growing season prior to transplant. Some examples of coarse-rooted plants are magnolia, apple, pear, cherry, laurel and pyracantha.
- Taproots. Taproots are made of one main root that grows downward. From this, branch and sometimes fibrous roots may form. Taproot plants generally don’t do well when transplanted. English walnut, sweet gum, tulip tree, persimmon, red and white oak and most two-needle pines are taproot plants and are usually best left where they are. Plants like carrot and Hollyhock are also taprooted and can be transplanted if done in the first few weeks after they have germinated.
- Contractile roots. These roots are found on bulbs and corms. The primary function of contractile roots is to pull the bulb or corm further into the ground to assure survival.
Install Trees and Shrubs
Once the area nurseries have cleared out the remaining cut Christmas trees, there will be many bargains offered on evergreen and dormant deciduous trees. In Washington gardens, we can plant those trees at any time in fall and winter as long as the soil is not frozen. When planting in winter be very mindful of the soil moisture. If the soil is too wet, do not work it. The simplest way to test if your soil is too wet for planting is to dig a hand-shovel full and compress it in your hand. If it oozes water, the soil is too wet to work, and you should wait a few days. If the soil clumps together and then easily breaks apart in small clumps, it is moist yet ok to work. The most important reason for not working the soil when it is wet is that you can destroy the natural composition of the soil, and it could take years to regain a proper air and water flow.
Take a Course
Winter is a great time to learn about your landscape. There are many great courses in landscape design and horticulture offered at the USDA Graduate School. George Washington University offers a full range of horticulture classes, and The University of DC has a great course that will train you as a master gardener.
So this winter while your garden sleeps you can make a difference in the beauty of next year’s bloom by taking the time to tuck it in properly for its long winter’s nap.
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