January Garden Chores

Planning & Preparation

• Order seeds and garden supplies for the upcoming season.
• Clean and sharpen garden tools.
• Review last year’s garden notes and start planning this year’s layout and crop rotation.
• Check stored bulbs, tubers, and corms for rot or mold.
• Test garden soil if it hasn’t been done recently.

Maintenance

• Monitor plants for signs of pest or disease, especially those overwintering in a greenhouse or indoors.
• Continue to water evergreen shrubs and trees during dry spells.
• Inspect dormant trees and shrubs for egg masses of pests.
• Prune dormant fruit trees (apples, pears) and grapevines.
• Check mulch levels and replenish as needed to protect root zones from freeze/thaw cycles.
• Clean out bird feeders and birdbaths; provide fresh water.

Planting & Starting

• Start seeds indoors for slow-growing annuals and cool-season crops (e.g., onions, leeks, parsley, slow-growing peppers).
• Plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and roses on mild days when the ground is workable.
• Plant garlic and shallots if they were not planted in the fall.

Harvesting

• Harvest winter vegetables like kale, collards, and Brussels sprouts, which often taste sweeter after a frost.
• Harvest evergreen boughs for indoor winter décor.