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| January Garden Calendar
Gardening Tips
- Before you order new seeds, test leftovers to see if they're still good. Spread 10 seeds from a packet on a damp paper towel, then roll the towel up like a scroll and store it in a closed plastic bag. Check daily for sprouts. If most of the seeds sprout in a week or two, you needn't replace them. If about half sprout, just plan to plant them a little thicker than normal. Order new seeds only if fewer than four seeds sprout in each sample tested.
- Shovel some extra snow over perennials to help protect them from fluctuating temperatures. (Avoid using snow from areas where you've applied de-icing salts, though.) If a January thaw pushes perennials out of the ground, use your foot to push them gently into place.
- After each heavy snow, use a broom to brush snow off the ice covering the water garden. To reduce your use of de-icing salts, remove snow from walks and drives before you walk or drive on them.
- If the weather is warm and there's no snow cover, check shallow-rooted perennials such as chrysanthemums and strawberry plants. If you find any roots exposed, use your foot to gently place the plants back in place, then tuck a little extra mulch around the plants.
- For a fun winter harvest indoors sow seeds of curly cress in a pot. Keep the pot in bright light, and water as needed to keep the soil moist. In about 10 days harvest fresh cress to add to sandwiches or salads.
- Take houseplants to the kitchen sink to hose off the leaves. Flush excess salts from the soil by allowing the water to run freely through the pots for several minutes.
