January Gardening Tips and Tasks

• Saving and sharing seeds is a fun way to collaborate with other gardeners, make good use of what your garden provides naturally, and save money. The last Saturday in January is National Seed Swap Day. In Maryland, seed exchanges are held by some local Master Gardener programs, libraries, and public gardens.
• Cut invasive English ivy vines that are growing up on tree trunks. These vines are easier to spot during the winter months when shade trees are bare.

• If you purchased holiday decorations made from boxwood branches, do not dispose of them in your compost. They can potentially be a carriers of boxwood blight and spread it to healthy boxwoods in the landscape.

• Problem tree branches (those hanging very low or which are storm-damaged) may be removed as needed. It is not necessary to wait until spring for this type of pruning.

• Heavy snow and ice loads can damage shrubs. Using a broom, push gently upwards on limbs to shake and dislodge snow from branches to prevent breakage. Often, bent or weighed-down branches will spring back after the snow/ice melts.

• Do not handle hairy-looking poison ivy vines climbing trees. Be aware that urushiol, the oil in the sap that can cause skin irritation, remains active and can produce symptoms during any time of year. Be careful not to bring firewood into the house with poison ivy stems attached to the bark.

Fruit in Your Future? Fruit plants can be ordered online in January and February for early spring planting. Strawberries, blackberries, and figs are easier to maintain without pesticides compared to apples, pears, and peaches.

• Be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly egg masses on the trunks of trees and other surfaces. Scrape them off and discard them.

• Remove and destroy bagworm bags from affected trees, especially if seen on needled evergreens like spruce, arborvitae, and juniper.

• Try winter sowing! Some seeds can be planted outdoors now in recycled plastic containers. This is a good method to start native plant seeds that require a cold period before germination. Learn about winter sowing on our blog or watch a video training by the Charles County Master Gardeners.
• Avoid the temptation to start vegetable garden seeds indoors too soon. Check seed packets for detailed information and refer to our vegetable planting calendar for guidance on starting seeds indoors.
• Don’t rely solely on windowsill light if you’re starting seeds indoors. Grow lights (supplemental LED or fluorescent light) will keep seedlings and young plants sturdy-stemmed and vigorous.

• Be careful not to overwater houseplants. Most houseplants should be watered only when the top inch or so of the potting soil or growing medium begins to dry out.
• Reduce or stop fertilization for houseplants unless they are grown under bright supplemental lighting.
• Several species of soft scale insects appear as brown bumps on leaves and stems, often associated with a clear sticky residue, and can be managed with a light horticultural oil spray labeled for houseplants and indoor use.
• Did you receive an amaryllis for the holidays? Keep it in a sunny window. After it is done flowering, the plant will produce leaves, and with proper care, can rebloom.

• Try growing greens, such as lettuce, indoors using hydroponics.
• Herbs grown indoors benefit from bright light and moderate humidity. Put them in a sunny window or supplement natural light with grow lights.

• Indian meal moths are a common pest of grains and grain products, cereals, bird seeds, dried pet food, and similar materials. You may see adult moths flying or larvae crawling or creating silken webs within their food source. Always check bulk foods prior to purchase for signs of meal moth infestation.

• Don’t store firewood inside your home; only bring in enough to burn at one time. Bark beetles and other wood-boring beetles may emerge from firewood inside the home.