January

Buy some graph paper and begin plans for this year's vegetable garden, flower beds and new landscaping.

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Turn houseplants every few days to keep them from turning toward the light.

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Learn about xeric (drought tolerant) plants. For more information, see our fact sheet on this topic.

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Plan a new ornamental garden now. Be careful not to over plant. Allow room for growth.

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Reread last season's garden diary and inventory leftover seed before you order new seeds.

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Look into taking gardening classes at Planting Fields Arboretum, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Clark Garden and horticulture classes at SUNY Farmingdale.

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Look for bargains on amaryllis and paperwhites that didn't sell at Christmas. Pot them up and enjoy. For more information, see our fact sheet on this topic.

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Watch out for leaves on houseplants that bend down and curl. This may be due to low temperatures or improper watering practices. For more information, see our fact sheet for common houseplant troubles and our fact sheet for a symptoms chart.

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Take inventory of garden equipment and tools, noting any replacements or new materials needed.

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You may want to prune damaged or diseased branches now. For more information, see our fact sheet on this topic.

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Stay off frozen turf as much as possible.

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Check out garden catalogs. There are dozens to look through. When ordering make sure the company uses the Latin name to avoid any misunderstandings.

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Keep your bird feeder well stocked and provide fresh water frequently to prevent freezing. Insect-eaters like Chickadees prefer suet. Seedeaters like cardinals and sparrows like mixtures containing sunflower seed, finely cracked corn and white millet. Bread should not be used because it becomes moldy and may make the birds sick.  

Last updated June 2, 2021