Water New Plantings
So far the winter weather in North Central Montana can be summed up in two words.....warm & windy. These conditions can be tough on plants that are not yet established. Now is a great time to give them a drink of water.
Equipment Maintenance
A season full of pruning & planting normally leaves behind a trail of dull tools & equipment needing routine maintenance or repair. Winter is the perfect time to clean & sharpen pruners, loppers, & saws. It's also the season to service & repair mowers, trimmers, & any other equipment used throughout the growing season. I also make a list of tools needing to be bought or replaced at this time.
Planning Your Vegetable Garden
The beginning of the New Year brings with it a stack of seed catalogs. For me personally, they're a great way to get inspiration & can almost see the seeds pushing through the soil in the spring. I recommend to begin mapping out your garden now. It's the perfect opportunity to reflect on last year's garden & maybe plan on trying new plant varieties along with crop rotation.
Research Plant Material
Are you thinking about planting a new tree, a few shrubs, or maybe even some perennials? Do your research to ensure you're choosing the right plant for the space. A lot of companies have plant catalogs online for references & inspiration. A few things to keep in mind when choosing plants are: size at maturity; light requirements; drought tolerance; disease resistance; & deer resistance.
Getting Ahead of Pests
Do you have the seasonal thorn in your side? For me, it's weed control! Every year, I reflect on the prior season & have grand intentions of doing better. It all begins with a plan... Now is the time to begin thinking about insect, disease, weed, & critter problems that occur consistently every year & research ways to reduce their impact. Some repeat offenders include: aphids; spider mites; weevils; powdery mildew; deer; & voles to name a few.
The off-season contributes greatly to having a successful gardening year. Good Luck & Happy New Year!
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