JANUARY & FEBRUARY IN THE GARDEN
by Jane & Wilson Grahame

• In a severe frost place cut evergreen branches over tender plants....remove after frost

• Don't walk on frozen grass.....it will cause damage 

• Gently dislodge heavy, wet snow from weighed down branches

• Pull weeds.......mild weather promotes their growth

• Rake winter leaves, debris and moss off the lawn

• Apply Dolomite lime to the lawn

• Order from seed catalogues

• Prune deciduous trees

• Prune grape and kiwi vines in January. When the weather warms up the sap begins to flow and the pruning wounds bleed.

• Prune winter jasmine when flowering ends. Cut back the flowering shoots to within 2" of the base. Remove dead growth and some of the oldest wood.

• In late February prune common hydrangeas. Remove old flower heads cutting stem down to a point 1/4" above the first fat pair of new buds below the old flower heads.

• If the colour of your hydrangea blooms was muddied last year:

*Clarify pinks and reds by adding wood ash or lime to the soil (alkaline)
*Clarify blues by adding peat moss (acid)

• Spray fruit trees and roses with dormant oil and lime sulphur on a dry day before leaves open. Take leaves off roses before spraying.

• (Some people disagree with the use of dormant oil and lime sulphur.)

• If the soil is not frozen or soggy plant leafless trees, shrubs & roses

• Plant lily bulbs

• Consider planting the following plants for winter interest in the future:

*Helleborus (Christmas or Lenten Rose) 
*Winter Heathers 
*Hammamelis Mollis (Chinese Witch Hazel) 
*Winter Jasmine 
*Sarcococca (Himalayan Sweet Box)

• Unlike tulips and daffodils you can lift, divide and transplant snowdrops and winter aconites while the foliage is still green

• Check begonia, gladioli and dahlia bulbs and tubers for rot due to dampness or disease

• Water plants under the eaves about once a month 

• Check for slugs and their eggs under pots. Slug eggs look like tapioca (white or clear)