Dusk to Lawn

January 2016          

PICKAWAY TO GARDEN

By Paul J. Hang

 

Dusk to Lawn

 

January means winter, at least it used to. We could count on cold weather, snow, breath made visible, scraping windshields. Now?  Well we’ll see. One thing that does remain the same in January is that our days are lengthening. It has been happening for almost two weeks. You can’t tell it in the morning but it is becoming noticeable in the evening, at dusk. In another month we will have added over an hour to our allotment of daylight. And then the additions will accelerate as the year creeps towards spring.

 

The increase in sunlight will be welcomed by the plant world. But don’t get too excited. It is still a ways off. Assuming this mild weather continues, along with the lengthening daylight, will we be mowing in January? Worse, will we also be mowing in the dimming light of dusk? I saw a neighbor mowing two days before Christmas. Was that a fruit fly I saw in the kitchen? What other surprises will a mild winter bring? If we don’t get a severe enough hard freeze what insects and larvae will survive to plague our gardens? I may rue my worries once winter decides to even out our weather.

 

This warm fall, the warmest on record in the contiguous U.S. according to N.O.A.A., is causing all kinds of confusion in the plant world. In a recent New York Times article there were reports of all kinds of early blooming plants, dandelions in Lancaster, Ohio, buckeye at New York University, and many others. A spokesman from the New York Botanical Garden explains that woody flowering plants produce a “budget” in summer that allows them to bloom flowers once a year. This warm fall has tricked them into spending their budgets early. They will create their budgets again this summer. The article says we shouldn’t worry too much. “You may see some reduced flowering in some plants next year, but they should pull through for the following year.”

 

January is also when we hear about people’s resolutions and are exhorted to come up with our own. Get more exercise! Lose weight! Save money! You know the litany. Me, I resolve not to make resolutions. I’ve lived long enough to be a little easier on myself. Life is too short. I’ve learned to devise ways of avoiding guilt. Not making resolutions is one of them. It doesn’t mean I don’t set goals and plan things. Some of those goals have to do with the garden. If you want to call them resolutions OK, go ahead. But, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

 

A goal for my garden is to keep it neater. Clean up the debris (to help control those unfrozen insects); weed more often, dead head the flowers when they need it. Prune back the wild growth. Clip the bulbs’ leaves when they turn brown. Rake and freshen the mulch, add some where needed. Patch the bare spots in the lawn. Once the vegetables are done pull them out. Eliminate invasive plants and plant more natives. I’m exhausted just thinking about it all. Oh well, I’ve got a few months to gather my strength. That’s what I like about the future. It’s not here yet.

 

January can be a time for planning, thinking about the year ahead. Don’t forget to check with OSU Extension websites such as ohioline.osu.edu when researching your ideas for the growing season. Liberty Hyde Bailey, one of the early American horticulturists, said, “The best gardener is one who does the most gardening by the winter fire.” Now that’s my kind of gardening.

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

The list of things to do in the garden has gotten shorter. Things we can do about gardening can fill your idle hours, if you have any. Review last year's garden. Draw a map while you can still remember what grew where.

 

Check your supply of old seeds. Are they expired? Do you want to reorder that variety? Read your new seed catalogs and begin to plan next year's garden. It's not nearly as much work. Order seeds and plants of new varieties now. They usually sell out quickly.

 

Believe it or not, by the end of the month, you can begin to grow members of the Allium family (Onions, Leeks, Garlic and Shallots) from seed indoors. You can get ready by getting your seed starting supplies together. Make sure you provide plenty of light.

 

Cut back on watering your houseplants and don’t fertilize until March or April when growth begins as the amount of light lengthens. When your poinsettias are looking ragged throw them on the compost heap. In my opinion it is not worth trying to get them to bloom again for the next holidays.

 

Plan your gardens and plantings. One of my favorite guides for this is The Ohio Gardening Guide by Jerry Minnich. Need some more seed catalogs? Go to gardeningplaces.com.

 

Establish a new bed by placing black plastic or several layers of newspaper, cardboard or even old carpet down over the area you’ve chosen for the new bed. Weight it down so the wind doesn’t disturb it. By late spring the vegetation under it should be dead and the space ready for planting.

 

Learn to sharpen your tools, trowels, pruners, spades and if you are really adventurous, your mower blades. It's always a good idea to consult the experts. Go on line and google it.