January in the Garden

The holidays have come and gone. The Christmas trees are set out for mulching and the decorations are on their way back to storage. The sidewalks might have snow lingering on them in between the much-too-mild days. The air is chilly and the days short.

We are in the thick of winter, turning inward and setting goals for the new year ahead. While it looks like the gardens are asleep, they are quietly gearing up for the next season. Their roots are spreading.

Now, as we walk through our beloved Park Hill, or look out our windows, we begin to see the skeletons of our landscape – the deciduous tree’s awesome form, the anchor that the evergreens provide, the plumes from our ornamental grasses, the brick wall, the flagstone. With a fresh season before us, we can begin to cultivate our ideas for our little slice of Park Hill.

In Colorado, we don’t typically think of our landscapes in the winter months. But, as our winters become milder and less snow falls, our gardens are more exposed. Without the snow’s delicate and fluffy groundcover, the winter garden can be a sight of unorganized shapes and sizes.

Or, it can be a marvel of structure, form and repetition, sprinkled with the personal touch of art. We can integrate hardscapes and create additional living spaces – little nooks for a morning cup of coffee or a place under a thick shade tree to read on a hot afternoon.

Winter is an ideal time to design outdoor spaces. Not only can you see the bones of the landscape, the opportunity to see what has been successful and what has struggled also arises. So, too, does the chance to notice other elements that can contribute to the beauty of the outdoor space.

Before any plans are drawn up, however, it is best to evaluate the needs and wants of your exterior space. Create a list of what your outdoor space will be used for. What edibles will you be eating next season? Do you want to decrease your turf areas and install more sustainable plant material? Is a patio in order? Do you want a water feature? If prepared early enough, the plans can be executed in time to enjoy the space for the season.

In Park Hill, we are blessed with beautiful, mature trees and old homes – perfect subjects to incorporate into the designs for our outdoor space. Inspiration takes hold. Ideas begin taking shape, concepts are quickly sketched and a final plan is born! Now, we can look out, from within, and plant our seeds of intent.

January gardening tasks:
• deep water trees, shrubs and perennials
• restock the bird feeders
• browse seed catalogs
• check stored bulbs and tubers; discard any spoiled ones
• pile the snow on tender plants (semi-hardy perennials, Redbuds, Japanese Maples, etc.) – it’s the ideal insulator against the cold

Marne Norquist is a professional horticulturalist with 12 years of experience designing and installing gardens. A native of Park Hill, she now cultivates a plot on Dexter street, where gardens – edible and ornamental – and two kids grow. She can be reached at marnenorquist@gmail.com.