University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Winter News
Article
SNOW REMOVAL
AND OTHER JANUARY GARDENING TIPS
Charlie Nardozzi,
Horticulturist and
Leonard Perry, UVM Extension
Horticulturist
Removing snow properly to avoid
plant damage, watching for fungus gnats on indoor plants, and
checking stored
root crops are some of the gardening activities for this month.
When
you are clearing your driveway with a snow blower this winter,
direct the snow
away from plants. Otherwise, the blowing ice crystals may damage the
tender
bark of young trees and shrubs. This isn't as much of a concern for
plants
wrapped with burlap.
When
deicing walks, use one of the granular products with a “chloride”
other than
sodium—these are safer on plants. They
may cost a bit more, but you can often use less. Calcium chloride
works best in the coldest
areas (down to about 5 degrees F). If
below this temperature, don’t use any chemical product but rather
sand for
traction. Liquid products don’t track
into buildings as granular ones often do.
Apply any material before ice and snow, if possible, for best
results.
Potatoes,
onions, carrots, turnips, and other root crops that you have stored
in your
basement or root cellar should be checked regularly for signs of
decay. Any
vegetables that show any rotting should be removed and any good
parts eaten (if
possible) immediately so they don't spread the disease to other
vegetables.
If
you’ve stored tender summer bulbs, check them too periodically.
Gladiolus corms are usually pretty easy to
store as long as they don’t freeze.
Dahlia tubers, on the other hand, can die if they get too dry
or stay too wet. If they are stored in a
medium such as sawdust, compost, or similar, and it feels damp and
tubers are
getting mushy, replace them at once into a drier mix and cut off
rotten
portions. If they are starting to
shrivel, add a bit (not too much) moisture to the storage medium.
Check
the calendar to see if your forced bulbs have received their
recommended amount
of cold treatment (12 to 16 weeks). If so, move them into a
50-degree (F) spot
out of direct sun until the flower shoots are about 2 inches tall,
then move
the pots to a sunny 68 degree location. The warmer the temperature,
the shorter
the flowering stems will be and the faster the bulbs will flower and
fade.
If
you've noticed tiny black flies that look like fruit flies around
your indoor
plants, they are probably fungus gnats. Though annoying when they
flit about,
the 1/8-inch-long adult insects are harmless. Their tiny, worm-like
larvae feed
on organic matter in moist soil, which can include plant roots. To
control
them, allow the soil to dry out between watering, use sticky traps,
or drench
soil with a biological control available at stores and labeled for
this insect.
When
you're finished with holiday evergreen boughs, use them to mulch
tender
perennials and shrubs. They make a lightweight but insulating layer
that helps
protect plants from alternating temperatures like our typical
January thaw
followed by a deep freeze.
Other
gardening ideas for this month include looking through print and
online seed
and plant catalogs, visiting a botanic garden online, keeping your
birds fed
and water in heated birdbaths changed every few days, and admiring
your winter
landscape with snowshoes.
(Charlie Nardozzi is a nationally known horticulturist,
author, gardening consultant, and garden coach; CharlieNardozzi.com).
Return to
Perry's Perennial
Pages, Articles 