Happy New Year! It’s hard to think about gardening in January when it’s often bitterly cold outside and all the plants are taking their winter slumber. Still, though, for us garden lovers, there’s always something that we can do.

Things you can do in January include planting your live Christmas tree (preferably on a sunny day so the soil isn’t quite as hard) and making sure to water your trees and shrubs if we haven’t received 1″ of rain or 12″ of snow for the month. I know it’s a pain to drag out your hose in the cold, but your plants will love you for it come springtime. 

You can also use this downtime to inventory your seed bank—getting rid of old and ordering new. By getting a head start on ordering your seeds, you’ll be sure to get the varieties you want. 

Also, don’t forget to set some food and water out for the birds. It’s a nice way to attract some wildlife to your yard, plus if they stick around come springtime, you’ll have some natural insect control—it’s a win-win!

The Holidays are here, the mountains are covered with snow, and your garden is probably the last thing on your mind right now.  December is a great time for busy gardeners to get some rest!  If you do feel so inclined to work in the garden, however, there are a few things you can do:

• Water at least once this month.  Yes, we say this a lot, but if we don’t get at least an inch of rainfall or a foot of snow, it’s time to drag out the hose and give those plants a drink.
• If we do a get a lot of snow and the weight of it is threatening to break the branches of your trees and shrubs, make sure to gently brush it off.  If it’s just a light layer, you can leave on as insulation.
• Strong winter winds can leave some of your trees with broken and hanging branches.  Be sure to cut these off as soon as possible in order to avoid further damage.
• Feed the birds!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!