Gardens And Verses: January Tips

In the rush of early morning,
When the red burns
through the gray,
And the wintry world lies waiting
For the glory of the day . . .
—Louisa May Alcott, 1876

The 2024 Park Hill Garden Walk is set for Sunday, June 8. As you wait, here are some seasonal tips for you and your garden:

• Recycle/compost your Christmas tree and greens. Save wreath forms to make your own next year, or give to those who will use them.

• Brush heavy snow off shrubs and conifers to protect them from limb breakage.

• Late in the month, prune evergreen shrubs (yew, holly, and boxwoods) and evergreen trees (spruce, fir) when they are still dormant and before new growth begins.

• If soil is workable and dry, then deep water when the daytime temperature will remain above 45 degrees for several hours. Water slowly so that it soaks 8–12 inches into the soil.   

• Plan your garden and shop for new seeds and plants.

• Repot houseplants that have outgrown their pots.

• Continue to fill your bird feeders. The birds need nourishment to get through the winter. Consider a heater for your birdbath.

Resources for learning about native plants and seeds:

• Colorado Native Plant Society

• CSU Extension (Extension.colostate.edu)

• High Plains Environmental Center

• Denver Botanic Gardens

Sources for purchasing native plants and seeds:

• Harlequin Gardens, Boulder

• High Country Gardens

• Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN (prairiemoon.com)

• High Plains Environmental Center

• Colorado Native Plant Society seed swaps

Monthly garden tips are submitted by Park Hill Garden Walk organizer Kate Blanas. The annual Garden Walk includes tours of some of the neighborhood’s most interesting and beautiful gardens and is a fundraiser for Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. To volunteer or suggest local gardens or artists for upcoming garden walks, contact Patty Mead at prmead416@gmail.com or Carla Finch at carla.j.finch@gmail.com.