Keep Active with Winter Gardening
It’s pretty easy to get motivated in the springtime. May is so pretty with everything beginning to bloom, and the temperature starts rising. June, July and August inspire us to get outside to enjoy so many outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, swimming, golfing, or even washing the car. But oh, January! January can be pretty dismal – dark early, freezing cold outside, and streets are often dangerous to drive on so we don’t want to go out anywhere. This is exactly why January is the best month to GET MOTIVATED!
Those other months trigger an automatic desire in us to move, to get going, and get things done. That auto-inspiration is going to need a little boost in January. What could possibly inspire us in the dead of winter to get moving? Not much, right? Wrong. It’s all in the attitude. What are you willing to tackle when it’s cold outside?
Here are some winter gardening tips:
Order some new garden catalogs to read. They are always fun to look at and see what’s new that may look good in our gardens. Poring over a good garden catalog with a cup of coffee can be a very cathartic experience.
Use that catalog to plan new gardens, or to make decisions about adding or replacing plants.
If you’re ambitious enough, believe it or not, winter is a good time to spread grass seed — the second best time after fall. Melting snow assures good seed-to-soil contact, and the freeze-thaw cycle heaves the soil and works the seeds down into it. The seeds will germinate when the soil warms, but that soil will still be moist enough to supply the water needed as the seeds sprout and grow. Some people have advised spreading the seed right on top of the snow, but it’s not the optimum method. You don’t know where the grass seed is going. Instead, spread seed when the snow is melted, removing any heavy debris like fallen leaves, and just spread the seed right onto the existing lawn or bare soil. Andrew Pratt, grounds manager at Cleveland Botanical Garden, cautions you may lose some seeds to birds or rot. But Denny McKeown, a Cincinnati-area nurseryman and author sees that as a bonus. Most people plant too much seed, he said, so that’s just a way for nature to do the thinning.
Plant a terrarium:
This may sound pretty tame, but it’s a hobby that will keep you off the sofa and maybe even connected with the rest of the family. This is a good activity in which to include the kids. Terrariums — gardens in glass containers — are back in style. If you can’t plant a garden outdoors, why not create a miniature one indoors? Some people even enjoy cultivating only moss with its velvety soft green mounds. Terrariums are no longer limited to aquariums with lids. Vases, bowls, glass domes called cloches, canning jars, lamps, and even a light bulb can make a good container!
Upkeep is minimal and the rewards are great. Check out these links for more information on growing, planting, and plant choices for your terrarium.
http://www.ehow.com/video_9374_make-terrarium.html
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/crafts/miniature-garden/
http://www.gardeners.com/Planting-Terrariums/7545,default,pg.html
There are many other sites where you can read about terrariums: just type in growing a terrarium and you
will find many sites to read about how to create your own indoor paradise under glass!
Start garden seeds:
Tired of growing the same old stuff? Starting seeds indoors is a way to supply yourself with vegetables and flowers you might not find at the garden center. Getting an early start will help to ensure a good spring/summer crop of flowers of veggies after transplanting to the garden.
Tackle some weeding!
Weeding is usually not a favorite chore. But weeding now can save you work in the warmer months. Weeds can pop up in your yard and garden even in winter. When a thaw exposes them, get out and pull them. Many of them can flower and set seed even in the cold, so removing them as quickly as you can will thwart their spread.
Look for anything and everything you can to keep you motivated and moving
in those gloomy winter months. You’ll be happy you did!
