A snowy January scene.
The Garden Website for January
Houseplant Winter Care - Down South - Amaryllis - Poinsettias - Paperwhite Narcissus
Killing Overwintering Pests - No Topping Trees - Winter Woes
Canadian Seed & Plant Catalogues - Winter Pruning - January Garden Stars - Plant Police
January Introduction - January Plant Combo - Amanda's Garden Blog - January Garden Chores
January Arrangement - Need Help? - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Japanese Forest Grass
Killing Overwintering Pests - No Topping Trees - Winter Woes
Canadian Seed & Plant Catalogues - Winter Pruning - January Garden Stars - Plant Police
January Introduction - January Plant Combo - Amanda's Garden Blog - January Garden Chores
January Arrangement - Need Help? - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Japanese Forest Grass
Bushtits perch on a star magnolia (M. stellata).
January Intro
This juxtaposition of my reality outside and the tropical paradise on the telly, reminds me how much I miss palm trees and sandy beaches of Florida.
Dear Fellow Gardeners,
Phew, what a year it has been! Little did I know this time last year, how important gardening would become, and not just to me, but practically everyone around the world. The pandemic has put everything in perspective of how important our natural world is, especially to our worn and weary souls. Gardening certainly has its rewards, but to be honest, it can be really hard work. Due to the pandemic, we've had more time to work in the garden. It's been hard work as our clay, rocky soil is difficult to dig. One of my biggest gardening issues for me and my fellow gardeners, is the lack of ‘muscle’. Gardening is not for wimps, especially when it comes to moving soil, digging holes in clay and rocky soils, making trenches, mixing in compost, planting big plants as well as oodles of them. All that heavy lifting, digging, kneeling, bending over and raking – it’s hard work and I’m just not as young as I used to be. Alas, high maintenance gardens are rarely sought after these days, unless you have a crew to do the ongoing maintenance for you. For most people, that is just not economically possible. My garden is rather low key, as I am a rather lazy gardener that relies on sustainability rather than brute strength. With that said, sometimes I need muscles, which my wonderful husband supplies (brownie points!) when necessary, but even then, it sometimes is a tough go. His patience is a virtue, which I was privy too when he slowly and surely dug up a huge root ball from our defunct cherry tree over a duration of a few weeks. I was just going to allow it to rot in its own time and wondered how many funky toadstools would emerge as it decayed. Thanks to hubby, I didn’t have to wait, and the same space now functions as our new potager garden. Muscle or no muscle, I hope you enjoy your garden and it gives you solace during this difficult time. Whatever this New Year brings, I hope you all have a much better 2021 than 2020. Have a healthy New Year and happy gardening. Cheers, Amanda 
Prune your Garden with Amanda
Make an appointment with Amanda for a housecall to your garden, where she will show you how to prune your plants. Take the fear and uncertainty out of pruning and gain confidence. Your plants will thank you. For more information and to register click here. All Covid-19 safety protocols are followed.
A windswept scene from a rainy, grey, blustery January day along the Graveyard of the Pacific on the Oregon coast.
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Amanda's Garden Blog
Check out my blog on my gardening experiments, trials. tribulations and excursions. Click on the items below to be directed to its page.
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January Garden Stars
Rosa Mundi gallica rose, Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’, deciduous shrub, fragrant, striped pink white roses in summer followed by red rosehips, sun, 4’ x 4’. Zones 4 to 10
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David viburnum, Viburnum davidii, broadleaf evergreen, 2-3’ x 3-4’, white blooms April to May, sun to part shade, blue/black berries, butterflies. Zones 7 to 9
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Charity Mahonia, Mahonia x media 'Charity', broadleaf evergreen shrub, 10’ to 15’ tall & wide, yellow winter flowers followed by black berries, sun to part shade. Zones 7 to 9.
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Dawn bodnant viburnum, Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn', deciduous shrub, 8 - 10' x 4 - 6', full sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 7. Click on picture for more.
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Hellebore, lenten rose, 18 -24" x 24". Partial shade, blooms Feb to May, herbaceous perennial. Zones 4 to 9. Click on photo for more.
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Winter heath, Erica carnea, 1ft x 2ft, flowers, Dec to April, sun to light shade, broadleaf evergreen, ground cover, Zones 5 to 8. Click on photo for more.
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Japanese skimmia, S. japonica, broadleaf evergreen, 3-4'x 4-5'. Fragrant winter & spring flowers. Red berries on female plants. Part to full shade. Zones 6 to 8. Click on pic for more.
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Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis, 10 - 15' tall & wide, fragrant blooms Jan to March, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 8. Click on photo for more.
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Late cotoneaster, Cotoneaster lacteus, broadleaf evergreen shrub, 6-12’ x 4-10’, sun to part shade, white flower clusters in spring followed by orange berries. Zones 6 to 8
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Variegated winter daphne, Daphne odora 'Aureo-marginata', broadleaf evergreen, 3 - 4' x 2 - 4', part shade, fragrant. Zones 7 to 9.
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Himalayan sweetbox, Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, broadleaf evergreen, 2-5' x 2-6', part shade to shade, fragrant flowers, black berries. Zones 6 to 8.
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Winter jasmine, Jasminium nudiflorum, deciduous vine, 10 to 15ft, sun to shade, Zones 6 to 10.
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Red twigged dogwood, Cornus sericea, deciduous shrub, 6 -9' x 7-10' wide, sun to part shade, white flower clusters, May to June, white berries in fall. Zones 3-7.
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Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, broadleaf evergreen, 10’-20’ tall & wide, fragrant flowers Oct to Dec, strawberry like fruit. Zones 7 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
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Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, Corylus avellana 'Contorta'. Deciduous shrub, 8 to 10 ft tall and wide. Zone 4 to 8.
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Laurustinus viburnum V. tinus, broadleaf evergreen shrub, 6-12’ tall & wide, clusters of white flowers Feb to April, metallic blue berries. Zones 7 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Lily-of-the-valley shrub, Pieris japonica, broadleaf evergreen, sun to part shade, 9–12’ x 6–8’. Zones 5 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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Rainbow dog hobble, Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow', broadleaf evergreen, 3 to 5ft x 1.5ft, part sun. Zones 5 to 9.
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January PLANT COMBO
A green David viburnum is surrounded by the yellow and green strap-like leaves of Japanese Forest Grass, with pink winter heath on the left in the foreground.
This combination of David viburnum (Viburnum davidii), Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') and winter heath (Erica carnea) are perfect partners. Brighten dull winter months with this colourful trio that sunny to partial sunny locations.Their soil is an organic rich soil with good drainage.
plant police
It's obvious that this tree was pruned incorrectly. Cutting the limbs to nubs will promote suckers and robs the tree of proper well-formed and secure branches.
Cutting off all the branches from a tree is a huge and immense mistake, please don’t do it. This treacherous and atrocious act is referred to as ‘topping’.
Don’t be afraid that tall trees may topple as nature is too smart for that. Trees have huge root systems that extend far beyond their canopy. Do remove or cut back branches in the way of pedestrians and ones touching the house. When shortening branches, cut back to a side branch; don’t leave stubs. A properly pruned tree should look as though it wasn't pruned at all - really and truly, honest. For more on pruning click here. 
To shorten branches, cut the stem back to a side branch.
Kill overwintering Pests & Diseases
Spray dormant oil/lime sulfur on fruit trees: apples, cherries, peaches and any other deciduous trees and shrubs to kill overwintering pests and diseases.
Kill Overwintering Pest & Diseases: This is the time of year to spray deciduous trees and shrubs with dormant oil and lime sulfur. This organic pesticide kills overwintering insects and diseases such as apple scab on apple trees, and caterpillars on ornamental cherries.
Conditions must be dry with no rain, snow or frost predicted for 2 days with temperatures at least 5 degrees Celsius. That means you have to wait just before spring. Here in the Southwest BC, late January to early February is ideal due to our temperate cllimate. For the rest of Canada apply in February or March. Ask your local garden centre for the right time for your area. Read more… Winter Pruning Tips
Remove suckers and watersprouts. They are easy to spot as they grow vertically. Cut them off at their base.
Prune most roses in March, when forsythias are in bloom. Pictured is one of my favorite roses 'Easy Does It', a floriferous floribunda.
Click on the diagram to be redirected to Pruning Grapes.
houseplants In Winter
Additional lighting helps plants be more vigorous and healthier during the dark winter months.
Here’s a few tips for your houseplants to keep them healthy and happy.
Order Seeds & Plants
Order soon so you won't be disappointed if they run out of stock. The following are Canadian companies and one American that ships to Canada. Click on the names highlighted below to go directly to their website.
Corn Hill Nursery, Corn Hill, New Brunswick offers retail and wholesale plants but not seeds. McKenzie Seeds, Brandon, Manitoba sells hundreds of different seeds including organic. Stoke Seeds, Ontario have a large array of untreated seeds as well treated ones. Their seeds are non GMO. Richters Herbs, Goodwood, ON L0C 1A0 offers free print catalogue. Seeds, dried herbs, herbal oils www.richters.com Seed Bank, Port Hope, ON, online retailer of non-GMO, non-hybrid, heirloom and open pollinated garden seeds Veseys Seeds, PEI, offers seeds and plants and free catalogue. W. H. Perron (formerly Dominion Seeds), Laval, QC offers seeds, bulbs, plants. Free print catalogue in French or English. William Dam Seeds Ltd., Dundas, ON. Free print catalogue of non-treated organic seeds Westcoast Seeds, Ladner, BC, features non GMO and organic seeds. Free informative catalogue. www.westcoastseeds.com B.C. Eco Seeds, is a BC co-op consisting of 17 farmers that offers BC grown ecological and organic seed. Brother Nature Certified Organic Seeds, Victoria, B.C. offer Certified Organic, heirloom and heritage seeds Botanus, Langley, BC. Specializes in bulbs and rare plants. https://www.botanus.com/ Renee's Garden is an American company that ships to Canada. A few of BC local retailers also offer Renee's seeds in their stores. 
Indoor seed planting time starts next month.
Prepare for Sowing Seeds: Get ready for sowing seeds by cleaning all plant pots, cell packs, starter packs, drainage trays and the like. Soak in soapy water with some bleach.
Reuse pots, cell packs and other containers but sterilize them first.
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January Garden ChoresClick on any green items below to be redirected to a relevant page for more information.
Heavy snow has broken numerous branches on this false cypress.
After a Winter Storm: Be on the lookout for broken branches and any that are too close to power lines and overhead cables. Check the street for clogged storm drains as they quickly fill with debris. Inspect the garden for downed trees, tossed furniture and the like. Stay clear of any power lines and call the power company asap.
Remove snow laden branches with sticks, brooms or rakes so they don't break or become distorted.
Puddles, & flooding: Make note where water pools and fails to drain after 24 hours. Make note of where the water is flowering from and where it’s settling so you can install a French drain when conditions improve. Read more.
If you don't want flooded roads, keep those drains free of ice and snow.
Winter Pansies: They are tough, but cover them with old sheets, cloth or even newspapers if temperatures dip to -1 Celsius (30 F) for more than 10 nights.
Heavy Snow: Heavy snow bends and breaks conifer branches and broadleaf evergreens. Use a long handled broom to knock of the snow so branches are not so heavily weighted.
Ice: Don’t try to remove or melt ice from plants as this ends up breaking branches causing even more damage. But do remove broken branches. 
Daffodils and other spring bulbs easily become dislodged when soil warms during the day then cools in the evening.
Thawing & Freezing: Warm temperatures fool plants into thinking it is spring so they start to grow. Their new tender foliage is killed when the cold weather ultimately returns. These temperature fluctuations causes the soil to expand and contract, which dislodges plant roots. If this happens, gently firm dislodged plants back into the ground and add a few inches of a winter mulch over top the plant and surrounding soil.
Snow is a great insulator, but ice is another matter and it breaks plants into, especially if you try to remove it.
Outside Planters: Inspect outside planters to ensure they are not swamped nor too dry. If they are too wet, move them under eaves away from the weather. If they are too dry, give them a drink. Dry plants are prone to suffer from winterkill with freezing temperatures. Snow is a wonderful insulator so there’s no need to brush it off unless it is flattening the plants underneath.
A happy squirrel devours crab apples.
Salt: Don’t use salt to melt ice on driveways and sidewalks; it injures surrounding plants, especially lawns. Use sand, organic kitty litter, or sawdust.
Lawns: Remember not to walk or drive on frozen or snow covered lawns, especially repeatedly. 
Lavender cuttings taken now, should have roots by spring.
Take Cuttings: Take hardwood cuttings of most shrubs and vines. If you are not sure which ones are suitable, experiment and see what happens; you might get lucky. To learn more about cuttings, click here.
Local nurseries offer winter treasures for the garden.
Dahlias, Glads etc: Check dahlias and other stored bulbs. Discard any rotten ones. Mist them if they are too dry. For more on storing dahlias click here.
Dahlia Art Nouveau.
Down South
In warm climates bring orchids inside when temperatures dip to 40F. If they are grown on trees, like this cattleya, wrap with sheets and other breathable fabric.
Down South: In warmer zones, watch out for night time temperatures that gets too chilly tender tropicals, especially on cloudless nights. Use tablecloths, old sheets and other breathable fabric to cover your favorite frost tender plants.
A display from the 2018 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle.
Gardening Shows & Conventions: Usually February is a big month for the horticulture industry to showcase their best and brightest, but due to the pandemic that’s not happening this year. It's going to be so nice when things get back to normal. If you want to walk to check out my past visit to the 2018 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle, just click here.
Amaryllis
A 'Minerva' amaryllis.
Cut off spent flowers, but leave their stems intact. Place in a sunny window and water sparingly. Cut off leaves once they turn yellow then place the plant in a cool (12-15 °C, 55-60 °F), dark place and don’t water. Keep the bulb in this dormant phase for four to twelve weeks. If you Christmas blossoms, dormancy should start in late August to early September. In late October, move to a sunny and warm location and water well.
POinsettias
Traditional red poinsettias.
Keep plants in a sunny window, but keep the leaves away from the window or they will drop off. Water when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Leaves wilt, yellow and fall off when they don’t receive adequate water. Although encouraging poinsettias to rebloom is difficult, you can always give it a go. In April, place the plant in a cool room about (12-15 °C, 55-60 °F). After new growth begins in spring, repot into another container one size larger. Cut back all stems by one-third just above a node (bud). In August cut back again by ¼ or just pinch off the stem ends. To learn more about poinsettias and how to make them flower again, click here.
Paperwhite Narcissus
Paperwhite narcissus.
Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) are not hardy in northern climates as they hail from the Mediterranean. This is why they are considered disposable houseplants in Canada and many northern parts of the world. They naturally flower in spring but are often ‘forced’ to flower throughout the year and is a common gift plant. These mini-daffodils are hardy from USDA growing zones 8 to 11. Because they are tender and are often forced to flower, they either don’t make it through the winter or they fail to flower. If you live in a warmer growing zone, then plant them outside even if they were forced. You never know, they may flower again. If you do want to plant them outside, cut off their flowers once they finish flowering. Place in a cool, sunny room and fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Allow soil to dry slightly before watering. Cut off foliage once it yellows and store in a cool, dark, dry location away from frost or just plant them outside in the garden.
January Arrangement
This January arrangement consists of conifers and broadleaf evergreens including Douglas fir, false cypress, skimmia and euonymus. For specifics click here.
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Plant of the Month
Japanese Forest Grass
Foliage is thin and papery. Variegated cultivars bear yellow or cream stripes.
A golden mound of the 'Aureola' golden Japanese forest grass.
A hosta, and a grouping of golden hakone grass cover the ground.
Combine with the feathery astilbe plumes that also like partial shade and moist soils.
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A Japanese forest grass cascades over a raised bed from a shady nook.
Japanese forest grass are suitable for container growing.
This hakone grass works well with the orange fritillaria and the tulips. In the background are the purple leaves of the ligularia 'Britt-Marie Crawford'.
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Common Name: Japanese forest grass, hakone grass
Botanical Name: Hakonechloa macra Form: a soft cascading mound Family: Poaceae Genus: Hakonechloa Species: macra Cultivar: Aureola Plant Type: herbaceous perennial semi-evergreen or deciduous depending on climate Mature Size: generally 1.00 to 1.50 feet height and width Growth: slow Origin: Japan Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9 Foliage: arching, papery, thin, strap-like leaves, 3 to 6” long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide Flowers: non-showy, tiny, airy clusters of yellowish-green, July, August Fruit: grains Exposure: partial shade is best, tolerates more shade in hot climates Soil: prefers humus rich, moist and well-drained. Uses: line paths, foundation plant, massing, mixed border, container plant, shade plant, accent plant, ground cover Propagation: division of rhizomes Pruning: cut off old foliage in early spring if it is unsightly Tolerant: air pollution, black walnuts, deer Problems: dislikes dry infertile soil and heavy clay soil Comments: Japanese forest grass consist of numerous well-behaved cultivars that may or may not have yellow or cream streaked foliage. Reminiscent of bamboo, its leaves are thin, papery, strap-like and tapered to a point. The many layers of foliage forms a fine-textured and brightly coloured mound. Numerous varieties become tinged with pink, red, orange or purple in fall with the onset of cooler weather. It’s quite a dramatic plant, but in a quiet and calming way. It is a perfect addition to moist shade gardens to add some stylish panache. Although it is tolerant of shady locations, too much shade causes the foliage to lose their colourful stripes and revert to a lime green. On the other hand too much sun causes the leaves to turn pale and become scorched. It’s best to provide more shade for these temperate plants when grown in sunny and hot climates. Japanese forest grass are ideal perennials for Southwest British Columbia as they prefer cool summers and mild, rainy winters. Plants grow as clumps from underground rhizomes, but they are not invasive as they are slow growers. Although they are not known for their hardiness they do withstand – 25 degrees Celsius. In cold climates, it’s important to mulch them for the winter. Cover with a few inches of fall leaves, straw or even soil. Don’t remove their leaves in fall as this makes them prone to winterkill. Remove the mulch in early spring when the danger of severe frosts are over and the plant sends out new growth. Cut off the old foliage when the new growth emerges. Place the remnants around the base of the plant as a mulch. Mulch. Due to Japanese forest grass’ penchant for moist, rich soil, they benefit from an organic mulch. When removing their spent leaves in spring, place their clippings around the base of the plants. Add more organic mulch such as fall leaves and aged wood chips to a depth of 3 inches. For more on mulch click here. Japanese forest grass does not do well in heavy clay soils, nor arid or sandy soils, but no matter what type of soil they are grown in, the do benefit from being mulched. Cultivars ‘All Gold’: 10-24” x 12-24”, compact, with gold coloured foliage ‘Aureola’: 12-24’ tall and wide, green leaves with yellow stripes ‘Beni-Kaze’: 12-18” x 24-36”, green leaves turn to red in fall. ‘Fubuki’: 8-12” x 16–18”, green and white striped foliage turns pink to orange in autumn. ‘Naomi’: 8-16” x 18-24”, green and yellow striped summer foliage that turns red and purple in autumn ‘Nicolas’: 8-16” x 18-24”, summer green leaves, red and orange fall colour ‘Stripe It Rich’: 6 to 10” tall x 20”, green with gold stripes |
A partially shaded bed combined with ferns accent a piece of driftwood.
Need Help?
Need help figuring what to do in your garden? Make an appointment for Amanda to come to your garden to show you how to grow food, sow seeds, prune, design beds etc. Need help trying to figure out how to get the garden ready for spring? Get Amanda to teach you the ropes by making an appointment here.
THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX
for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
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