January Gardening Tips

General Gardening Tips

• Now is the time to feed the birds in your landscape for natural food sources are scarce at this time of year. Use suet cakes along with birdseed to provide protein and fat for the birds.
• Water is also important for birds, so if you have a birdbath in your garden, be sure to use a de-icer to prevent the water from freezing. Merrifield Garden Center has an extensive selection of birdseed, houses, feeders and other supplies to choose from.
• Brush or sweep heavy snow off evergreens to prevent breakage.
• Apply an anti-desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf to azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies and other broad-leafed evergreens to minimize moisture loss during the cold, windy winter. Do this when the temperature is above 45 degrees F. It is important to protect these broad-leafed evergreens for they have more surface area of leaf tissue, which can lose moisture from the drying effects of the wind.
•  If we experience a dry or windy winter, you should water thoroughly on a day when the temperatures are above 40 degrees.
• January or February is the time to prune fruit and shade trees if necessary.
• Protect your landscape from hungry deer. Our plant specialists can help you with wildlife control strategies.
• This is a great time to apply cow manure and other organic soil conditioners to your garden. Apply 2" deep in vegetable gardens and let the nutrients soak into the soil.
• If you have plants growing outside in containers, be sure to wrap the pot with an insulating material to help keep the roots warm. For although the plant you are using in a container may be cold hardy, it may not be able to withstand the colder winter temperatures because its roots are not protected by the ground. Ask one of our plant specialists about different options for protecting your plants.
• If you have containers that are not being used throughout the winter, be sure to turn them over to keep them from collecting water that could freeze and crack the container.
• On icy sidewalks and driveways, use a good quality ice-melting product such as Mag (magnesium chloride). Do not use salt or rock salt for they may damage concrete or plant material.
• If you have a water feature, be sure to check the pumps to make sure they are working properly. Larger pumps that move a lot of water typically will keep running throughout the winter without any problem. Smaller pumps, however, will most likely freeze and should be turned off for the winter.
• Use a floating pond de-icer to help insure winter survival of your fish.

Lawns

• January and February are ideal months to lime the lawn if you have not done so in recent years. Lawns prefer a pH range of 6.2 - 6.8 which typically requires liming in our area. If needed, apply 50 lb. of lime per 1,000 square feet of lawn area. This will raise the pH 1/2 point. If you need to apply more lime, wait six weeks between applications.
• Stop by the garden center and pick-up a copy of Merrifield's free brochure, "Guide to Year-Round Lawn Care." This brochure will give you helpful advice about all aspects of lawn care, including seeding, liming, fertilizing and weed and insect control.

Houseplants

• Enjoy indoor gardening with a trip to our greenhouses. Orchids, African violets and other flowering houseplants will brighten the inside of your home or office.
• During the winter, mist ferns and gardenias once a week, particularly if your house is very dry.
• As a general rule, do not feed your houseplants as often during the winter months for this is their resting period. Begin feeding them more regularly in late February with a good quality indoor plant food such as Jack's Classic (water-soluble powder) or Osmocote (slow-release granular).
• Check the leaves of your houseplants for insect problems like scale, mites and mealy bugs. If you detect a problem, bring in a representative sample and one of our plant specialists will diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate control. We have several ready-to-use spray products such as Ortho's Rose and Flower Insect killer (Talstar) or All Seasons Spray Oil, which are ideal for indoor use.
• Check houseplants that have leaves that are turning yellow and brown. Lower leaves that curl up and fall off may be too warm, too dry, or the plant may not be getting enough water. If you are uncertain, call or visit Merrifield Garden Center with a sample.
• Check the pots of your houseplants and look for roots that are protruding from the drainage holes or up over the top. If this is happening, the plant needs to be repotted to a larger pot. When repotting plants, we recommend using Merrifield Potting Mix.