January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

Similar stories:

• There’s plenty to do in your December garden

  There’s plenty to do in your December garden

  Q: Are there chores I should focus on in the garden during December? — Dennis Neil, Los Osos

  A: Wear an extra sweater and you’ll find that December is a beautiful time to work in the garden. You may need a breather from the holiday ruckus and keeping the garden tended will make for less work in the spring.

  Winter is a great time to assess what worked and what didn’t in your garden. Grab your hot coffee, tea or cider and take a stroll. The bones of your garden are more visible at this time of year. Now, you can set some goals for 2012.

• February is the perfect time to prepare for spring

  February is the perfect time to prepare for spring

  Q. What should I be doing in the garden in February? Is it time to cut back perennials and shrubs? — Sharon Connors, San Luis Obispo

  A. February is already spring in many areas of the county. If not done in January, dormant pruning of roses and fruit trees should be completed now, before they bud out. Shrubs can be shaped and cut back now, as can salvias and lavenders and verbenas, when they have a flush of new growth at the base. Ornamental grasses, too, can be trimmed and/or divided.

  This is a good time to prepare beds, digging in compost and planning new plantings. Be sensitive to the water needs of your garden. During times of frost, it’s important to make sure that soil is not completely dried out. As growth begins in spring some areas may need water after a dry winter — or if we’ve had late rains, test the soil before working it. If it sticks together when squeezed, wait until it dries somewhat.

• Making the cut: The ins and outs of effective pruning

  Making the cut: The ins and outs of effective pruning

  January means different things to different people.

  For some it means good books, bunny slippers and naps by the fire.

  For avid gardeners, January is the time to grab a pair of pruners and head outside to the fruit trees and vines that await our attention. Careful pruning can make the difference between a bountiful crop of fruits and berries and an unhealthy, unproductive orchard. When we prune we get rid of dead and diseased branches and we improve the structure of a tree.

• Edible gardens will pay for themselves in produce

  Edible gardens will pay for themselves in produce

  Does your home landscape deserve the time, water and money you put into it? Consider increasing your rewards by developing an edible landscape — incorporating plants that can be eaten, with or without plants that are purely ornamental.

  The ongoing scarcity of water on the Central Coast, the rising cost of grocery store produce and the importance of conserving energy make it difficult to justify spending resources on gardens that do not pay their way in some fashion.

  Having a variety of beautiful, edible plants, trees and shrubs among the ornamental ones can add an element of beauty, functionality and fun to your landscape.

• May in the garden: Plant, feed, beware of frost

  May in the garden: Plant, feed, beware of frost

  May is a month for planting, fertilizing and controlling pests. But don’t be fooled by a late frost.

  Plant dahlias and gladiolus for summer color. For annuals you can plant dianthus and pansies. As the nights become warmer you can hang baskets of fuchsias and geraniums. For perennials, shop for summer and fall color with asters, coreopsis, and cornflowers.

  Now is the time to check the needs of your lawn. Aerate, feed and over-seed to get rid of bald patches. Around mid-month, feed your lawn with an even coat of highnitrogen fertilizer, watering thoroughly after application.