What garden tasks can you do in winter? Here's a list of January garden chores for vegetables and flower gardens, basic yard care, and seed starting.
January is a time for planning - not only for the typical goals and what we want to do for the new year, but for our gardens as well. The time you take to plan for what you want to grow, where you want to grow them, and how you'll grow them will lessen the work you'll have to do in the spring.
Plus, it's fun to dream - all gardens are perfect gardens in our dreams, right? (TIP: Grab this free garden notebook to record your plans.)
We can also take this time to prep our tools and supplies for the coming season and take advantage of any nice days to get a jump on pesky weeds or replenish mulch. Bare-root trees and shrubs will become available this month and if you can plant, you should, since they are often half the price of spring potted varieties.
Between these things and planning, plus buying our seeds, there's actually quite a few things you can do for your gardens on January's list!
January Garden Chores
Vegetable & Fruit Garden
- Dream & draw up your garden plan for the new season! I love this part of January the best - here is how I plan and organize which includes how to download AOC's free Gardening Notebook.
- Check your vegetable and flower seeds and then order the seeds you need this month before things start selling out.
- Check your supplies, including seed-starting mix and organic fertilizers, and replenish as needed.
- Near the end of the month is time to weed the asparagus and strawberry beds and then feed the plants and add to the mulch.
- Cover any root crops still in the ground with an extra layer of mulch in freezing weather.
- Remove yellowing leaves from winter brassicas - they are no use to the plant and may harbor pests and diseases.
- Start winter pruning of fruit trees, vines, and bushes - this is best done while they are dormant. (You may want to leave plum, cherry and apricot trees unpruned until the summer to protect against silver leaf infections.)
- Prune out old growth from blueberries, blackcurrant bushes, gooseberries and red currants to maintain productivity.
- Shop online or locally for asparagus roots, strawberry plants, and fruit trees (all bare-root) to plant the end of the month.
- You can experiment with growing potatoes in containers, under cover for a very early crop (Charlotte potatoes are a good variety for this).
Flower Garden
- Push back any plants that have "heaved" out of the ground because of freeze-thaw cycles.
- Rake heavy snow off shrubs as needed to minimize permanent damage.
- Cut back old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins - clip them to within a few inches of the ground.
- Cut down the old stems of perennial plants like sedum, yarrow, and daylily, being careful of any new growth.
- Remove old hellebore leaves as the new blooms emerge.
- Remove faded flowers from winter pansies to prevent them setting seed.
Seed Starting Inside
- Check any leftover seeds and make a list of what you need before ordering, then order seeds and plants early to avoid substitution.
- Start seeds of pansies, dusty miller, begonias, snapdragons, delphiniums, and other hardy perennials indoors under lights.
- At month's end, start seeds of onions, leeks, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower indoors under lights.
TIP: You can find all my seed-starting tips and tricks in this series-
- Vegetable Garden 101: How to Start Plants from Seeds
- Vegetable Garden 101: Caring For Seedlings at Week 1
- Vegetable Garden 101: Caring for Seedlings at Week 6
Other:
- Check the condition of your gardening equipment.
- On mild days, remove winter weeds, such as wild onions and chickweed and top-dress lawns and garden beds with more compost.
- Keep an eye on fruits and vegetables in storage and remove any that are diseased.
- Stay off garden beds and lawns in general and keep to paths to maintain soil quality in the winter.
- Plant bare-root shade trees, as needed.
Note: This January garden chores list is not comprehensive by any means, but meant to provide a jumping-off point to organizing your garden chores. Feel free to print the list and add any of your own specific chores to the sections.
You can see all the month-by-month garden chores lists here.
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Angela says
Hi,
I love your list, such a good starting point. I want to try planting onions this year and am in the PNW also, do you have any suggestions as to what types in particular do well here?
thanks
Jami says
I'm glad you found this helpful, Angela! Yes, I have had good success with the classic Walla Walla and also Candy Onion, Copra, Superstar, and red one called Red Wing. If you don't get the Territorial Seed catalog, go to their site and request it - it's full of varieties that do well in our area.
Have fun!
jen says
Jami,
Do you actually have plants starting to show signs of new growth in Jan? I'm in Ohio and other than weeds we would never see day lilies or other plants starting new growth this time of year, even in a mild winter. I assumed Oregon would be an even harsher climate being further north? Or are you that far north? Maybe the ocean is close enough to provide milder weather there.
This would be a great time for winter pruning of trees, though. Thanks for the reminder!
Jami says
Yes, Jen, I'm in the maritime northwest - the mild valley between the coast and the mountains - and so we have new shoots like I picture coming up all through January. Often they are covered with snow at some point over the next two months, but they don't seem to mind, since the ground doesn't freeze and the snow rarely lasts more than a week.
This list is meant as a starting point and I try to have something on the list anyone can do in January no matter what the weather is like (plan, take care of weeds on days you feel like getting outside, pruning, etc.), 'cause I know I have readers both covered in snow up north AND getting their first plants in the ground in the south. 🙂
Jen says
That makes sense. I was curious; I've read some blogs of people living in other states using deep, deep straw mulch for their gardens. I only have trouble with dryness for part of the summer, but getting started can be very wet for me.
Have you heard of or tried the extra deep mulch method where you are? You have a lot of rain, right? I was curious if the straw could be a negative when there's lots of rain or poor drainage, or if it still benefits a wetter climate.
Jami says
I use straw mulch, but mainly in borders and berries and with potatoes. The only think I've noticed with our wet springs is that it harbors slugs - sometimes I lost entire potato plants to the dumb things. So use lots of slug bait if you do use it. Do you have any raised beds? That's how I'm able to start early spring plants in our wet climate without ruining my soil. I leave the larger beds for later spring planting like corn, beans and pumpkins.
Jen says
I used to have some raised beds, but my husband thinks it could hurt resale of our home for anyone who might not be a big gardener. So I have to make do with in the ground. I've tried hoing up "raised" areas in the past, but they never want to stay raised. And now I work outside the home & don't have as much time to mess with it.
I do love how your raised gardens look with gravel paths and being able to put soaker hoses and cold frames. Maybe someday when we retire in the country 🙂
Jami says
Oh, bummer. Where I live, raised beds are usually a selling point in the home ads "fruit trees and raised beds" 🙂
Christie says
HI:
Where do you get starts for charlotte potatoes ? I've never heard of them or starting this early. I'm in Oregon so we are on the same track there! ~ C
Mary Ann says
I am in NE Kansas, and though we moved last year and I am going to have this new yard tilled up in
another month or so, we still own our old house, and it is still not ready to rent. I am still taking care of my huge flower garden there. I was just thinking today when out there that I need to start working in the flower beds, and cut down the rest of last year's perennials. I also need to put some more mulch on the beds... about another 2 inches. I want them deeply mulched before new growth starts.
Thanks for the reminder to trim back the bushes.
Jami says
Two yards to take care of - whew, you've got a lot on your plate I bet, Mary Ann! And I'm with you - if I can get enough mulch (and newspaper) down, then the weeds throughout the rest of the season are so minimal it's worth it. 🙂
tastycook says
I wish I could weed asparagus and strawberry beds in January. Unfortunately here'about 8" of freshly fallen snow covering the beds. Can't see ant weeds - maybe there are none!!!
Jami says
Well, there's a good excuse, right? And I'm sure there aren't any weeds. 😉
tastycook says
I wish!!!
Deloris says
Surely you jest--in Utah-- covered by snow?!
I'll keep this list to use a little later in our year!
I'm using the last of the Christmas ham to make a ham, potato, corn chowder. Planning to have your beautiful soft, whole wheat dinner rolls to go with it.
Jami says
Oh, but don't forget about the planning and seed-starting, Deloris! I try to start things I want to grow a long time like sweet peppers at the end of January or beginning of February, so I need to have all my seeds bought and plans made. Perfect use of the time the garden's under snow. 🙂
Oh, I LOVE a good ham chowder - sounds heavenly!
Deloris says
Yes! I got my first seed catalog yesterday so that process is starting.
The bloom of youth has left my cheeks I'm afraid-- it's very hard for me to not get out and really do things in the garden. I'm going to try container gardening this year and see how that goes.
The thing I am looking forward to is your rolls!!