January/February Garden care by Judy Glattstein
January
Read catalogs and books. Plan perennial borders.
Order seeds - to be shipped promptly, and plants - to be shipped at the correct time.
Remove heavy snow from evergreens such as yew, hemlock, and rhododendrons.
Bring in potted bulbs for forcing.
Check stored bulbs such as dahlia/gladiola/caladium/canna), for shriveling or rot.
Sow seeds of begonias and petunias under grow lights or in greenhouse.
Clean and sharpen tools if not done in autumn.
February
On mild days, check for frost heaving.
Prune grapevines and non-stone fruits such as apple, pear, and quince.
Spray fruit trees, lilacs, etc. with a dormant oil when temperature is above 45E F.
Prune winter damaged branches, weak branches, dead wood.
Sow seed of rock garden and native plants that need freezing temperatures to germinate.
Sow indoors: seed of begonias, petunias, eggplants, broccoli, cabbage, leeks.
