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  • Home
  • About, Services, Contact
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  • Roses
    • Types of Roses
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    • Pruning Roses
    • Rose Sawfly
    • Rose Bloom Balling
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The Garden Website.com for January

Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
A golden eagle at Mud Bay, Delta, BC takes flight across Boundary Bay headed towards the Strait of Georgia. 

January Gardening

 January Introduction -  January Plant Combo - Amanda's Garden Blog - January Garden Chores 
January Garden Stars - Plant Police 
Killing Overwintering Pests - No Topping Trees - Winter Woes 
Canadian Seed & Plant Catalogues - Winter Pruning - Pruning Grapes & Wisteria
January Arrangement - Need Help? - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum

January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Frost on a rhododendron bud.

January ​Intro

January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
An icy garden vignette.
Happy New Year! Can you believe it is 2020? Where are the flying cars, the jet packs, robot maids and sky-high apartments? Apparently the age of the Jetson’s has not yet arrived. In many ways, the opposite is true. Instead of flying cars, people are getting down and dirty as gardening hits pay dirt as the number one hobby of North America. Globally it rates as number 9; reading is #1.

I think one of the many reasons gardening is so popular is the ever-rising cost of food. Remember when produce was so inexpensive, it was easier to buy it than to grow it? It's not the case these days. Besides, you just can’t beat the flavor of freshly picked veggies you’ve grown yourself. All it takes is a few pots on a balcony; you don’t even need a garden.

I admit here’s something wonderful about plunging bare hands into soft, sweet smelling earth, as those that tend to the soil can attest to. Soil contains a beneficial soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, which apparently boosts immune systems! Maybe that's why I find gardening so therapeutic, regardless of the sore knees and back.

If you haven’t taken the plunge and sown some seeds, give a go. Watching seeds transform into plants is amazing and even better if you can eat them! And there’s no chemicals, no preservatives and they are fresh from balcony and garden to table.

So no matter where you live, and even if gardening isn’t in your genes, consider giving it a go. After all, plants are always cool, hip and on gardening is so on-trend!

Wishing you a wonderful 2020 with lots of beneficial soil bacteria and dirty fingernails. Sorry about the sore knees and back. 

Cheers,
Amanda
January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture

Prune your Garden ​with Amanda

Picture
Amanda will takes the guesswork out of pruning your garden when shows you how. Take the fear and uncertainty out of pruning and gain confidence. Your plants will thank you. For more information and to register click here.

Picture
A tree silhouette is back-lit during a golden January sunset.

Amanda's Garden Blog

Corylus avellana 'Contorta',
The curly branches of a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick Corylus avellana 'Contorta', catches the snow.
​​​Check out my blog on my gardening experiments, trials. tribulations and excursions. Click on the items below to be directed to its page. 
To subscribe to my blog click here. 
  • How to Make a Christmas Elf
  • Why Christmas cactus Don't Blossom
  • A Quickie Festive Swag
  • 10 Steps to Festive Planter
  • Christmas Tree Selection 
  • Houseplant Winter Care
  • ​Building a French Kitchen (Potager) Garden
  • Colourful Fall Plants
  • Tomato Taming
  • Speeding up Tomato Harvests
  • Saving Tomato Seeds
  • Plant Rusts
  • Dunbar Garden Club Garden Tour 2020
  • Rose Bloom Balling
  • ​Types of Roses
  • Easy Roses Do Exist.. Really!​
  • Easy Vegetable Garden Trellis 
  • Tomato Seedlings to Plants
  • Video: How to Divide Dahlias 
  • Video: How to Plant a Tree
  • Video: How to Prune a Grapevine in Winter
  • Damping Off - A Seedling Killer!
  • Lawns: ​Seeding, Sowing, Renovating
  • Lawn Grub Control
  • Tuberous Begonias 101
  • Dahlias 101
  • Pruning in Winter
  • Pruning & Training Grape Vines in Winter
  • Insects & Diseases Control with Dormant Spray
  • Dealing With Drought
  • Heritage Vancouver 7th Annual Garden Tour
  • Growing Potatoes
  • Pruning Shrubs into Trees
  • Collecting & Saving Seeds
  • Heritage Vancouver 6th Garden Tour
  • The Dunbar Garden Tour 2018
  • Dart's Hill, A Garden Park
  • VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visit
  • Tall Kale Tales
  • Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle
  • Pruning in Winter
  • Pruning & Training Grape Vines in Winter
  • Insects & Diseases Control with Dormant Spray
  • Putting the Garden to Bed
  • How to Drain Soggy Soil
  • A Visit to the Arizona - Sonora Desert
  • Banana, Palm Tree Winter Protection
  • Lasagna Gardening, Sheet Mulching
  • Saving Geraniums, Coleus, Bougainvilleas & Other Tender Plants 
  • Spiders Everywhere - Oh My!
  • Tomato Troubles & Soil Solarization
  • Trees That Drip That Sticky Stuff
  • Balcony Bliss
  • June Bugs - One Huge Beetle! 
  • A Summer's Day Harvest
  • The Dunbar Garden Club Private Tour
  • Leaky Birdbaths and Slug Free Strawberries
  • Oops... Wrong Plant, Wrong Place
  • I Had An Ugly Lawn...
To subscribe to my blog click here. 

LEE VALLEY TOOLS Garden SEMINARS, Vancouver

Gardening in the Spring
  • Thurs, March 19, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Amanda will guide you through the spring garden chores such as seed starting, cleaning up beds, fertilizers, soil health, making new beds and lots more. Seating is limited. Fee $30.00. For more info click here. Please register early to avoid disappointment. To purchase tickets  call 604-261-2262 ​
Garden Design 
  • Saturday, April 4, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
  • Learn design principles, plant selection, creating a garden plan, how to make garden rooms and much more. Seating is limited. Fee: $45.00. For more info click here. Please register early to avoid disappointment. To purchase tickets  call 604-261-2262 ​

January ​Garden Stars

winter jasmine,Jasminium nudiflorum,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Winter jasmine, Jasminium nudiflorum, deciduous vine, 10 to 15ft, sun to shade, Zones 6 to 10.
Rosa Mundi gallica rose,Rosa gallica 'Versicolor',January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
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
Chinese witch hazel,Hamamelis mollis,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis, 10 - 15ft tall & wide, fragrant blooms Jan to March, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 8.
Helleborus,hellebore,lenten rose,Christmas rose,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Hellebore, lenten rose, 18 -24" x 24". Partial shade, blooms Feb to May, herbaceous perennial. Zones 4 to 9.
Erica carnea,winter heath,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Winter heath, Erica carnea, 1ft x 2ft, flowers, Dec to April, sun to light shade, broadleaf evergreen, ground cover, Zones 5 to 8.
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis,dwarf sweet box,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
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.

Cotoneaster lacteus,late cotoneaster,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
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
Mahonia x media 'Charity' Oregon grape holly,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Charity Mahonia, Mahonia x media 'Charity', broadleaf evergreen shrub, 10’ to 15’ tall and wide, yellow winter flowers held atop stems followed by black berries, sun to part shade. Zones 7 to 9.

Japanese skimmia japonica,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Japanese skimmia, Skimmia japonica, broadleaf evergreen, 3-4ft x 4-5ft. Fragrant flowers in winter and spring. Female plants bear red berries. Need a male plant to produce berries. Part to full shade. Zones 6 to 8.
rainbow dog hobble,Leucothoe fontanesiana,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Rainbow dog hobble, Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow', broadleaf evergreen, 3 to 5ft x 1.5ft, part sun. Zones 5 to 9.

January ​ PLANT COMBO

Erica carnea,Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop',January Plant combination,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
​Winter heath (Erica carnea) and a Golden Mop Japanese (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop')
Pink winter heaths surround a Golden Mop Japanese falsecypress. This colourful combination is suitable for small areas in full sun to part shade. This newly planted grouping will change overtime as the plants mature. The Golden Mop will become more dominant, commonly growing to a height and width of 3 to 5 feet. The surrounding heathers will provide the perfect backdrop growing shorter to a height of 18 inches. Both plants prefer moist, acidic soil, high in organic matter. 

plant police

chlorotic rhododendron leaves,yellow rhododendron foliage,rhododendron iron deficiency,rhododendron nutrient deficiency,incorrect pH,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
This rhododendron needs more iron.
This rhododendron is showing symptoms of an iron deficiency hence the yellow leaves with green veins. An iron deficiency is a common problem with rhododendrons and many broadleaf evergreens such as camellias. There are numerous causes: poor drainage, heavy clay soil, sandy soil, planting too deeply, drought and soil that’s not adequately acidic. When acidic loving plants are grown in alkaline soils (pH above 7) they are unable to uptake iron, calcium and magnesium no matter how much is present in the soil.

​The ideal pH for iron uptake 4.5 to 6.0. Rhodos, and other acidic loving plants, are prone to this iron deficiency when they planted too close and/or when surrounded by concrete paths, rock mulch, patios, house foundations etc. Lack of organic matter, such as compost, also contributes to iron deficiencies. Organic mulch is essential for rhododendrons and other acidic loving plants. For a long term fix, mix in an inch or two of compost, well-rotted manure, composted manure once a year or at least, every other year. Apply 3 inches of an organic mulch on top of the soil and around plants as all acid loving plants love a good thick mulch!

For a quick fix and to aid the plant immediately, acidify the soil with ferrous sulfate or apply chelated iron. These products are sold in garden centers and must be applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. And don’t forget to water during the summer; all plants appreciate that. For more on nutrient deficiencies click here.

Kill overwintering Pests & Diseases

dormant oil,lime sulfur,overwintering insects & diseases,pest control,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Spray dormant oil/lime sulfur on fruit trees: apples, cherries, peaches and any other deciduous trees and shrubs to kill overwintering pests and diseases.
Apply dormant oil and lime sulfur to kill overwintering pests and diseases on ornamental cherries, roses, fruit trees and other deciduous (lose leaves in fall) trees and shrubs (including roses!).
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 temperate Southwest BC, that usually means late January to early February is ideal. For the rest of Canada apply in February or March. Ask your local garden centre for the right time for your area. Read more…

No Topping Trees Please!

topping trees,hat-racked trees,bad pruning,tree pruning,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
This is NOT how to prune a tree.
If you are contemplating cutting back all the limbs from a tree because it is too big – please don't! This insidious and heinous act is referred to as ‘topping’. Tall trees have huge root systems that extend far beyond their canopy so they will fall down. Nature is way too smart for that. Do remove branches if they are in the way of pedestrians or touching the house. Either remove the entire branch or back to a side branch. A properly pruned tree should look as though it wasn't pruned at all - really and truly, honest. For more on winter pruning click here.
winter pruning pear,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
A pear tree before being pruned.
winter pruning pear,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
The same pear tree after suckers, crossing branches, spindly stems, dead and suckering growth were removed.

Winter Woes

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Check out the house and garden after a winter storm to check for broken tree limbs.
  • After a Winter Storm: Tour the garden. Be on the lookout for broken branches, ones too close to power lines and overhead cables, clogged storm drains, downed trees, tossed furniture and the like. Call the power company if power lines are down asap and do stay clear of them. 
  • Snow: Snow is a great insulator and protects plants from the cold – so there is no need to remove it from plants unless it is heavy and threatens to break branches.
  • Heavy Snow: Be armed with a long handled broom to remove snow from evergreens. Heavy snow bends and breaks conifer branches and broadleaf evergreens. It also distorts and destroys pyramidal and geometric shaped evergreens. It's a good idea to wrap them with twine to preserve their pristine shapes. 
  • Ice: When ice coats plants, it's best not to try to melt or remove it as it will cause even more damage. Just leave it be if possible. When it comes to ice on sidewalks, paths and driveways, avoid using salt as it is a plant killer, contaminates soil and is corrosive. Safer alternatives are sand, organic kitty litter or sawdust or select pet and plant friendly ice melting products at home hardware stores. 
  • Lawns: Remember not to walk or drive on frozen lawns. It breaks the crowns, where the stems and roots meet, killing the grass plants. 
snow breaking trees,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Remove snow laden branches with sticks, brooms or rakes so they don't break or become distorted.

houseplants In Winter

houseplants winter,houseplant lighting,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Additional lighting helps plants be more vigorous and healthier during the winter.
  • If your houseplants are pale, leggy and lack vigor, they probably need more light. Not only are the daylight hours shorter this time of year, the sun is weak and lacks intensity. Place plants in front of your sunniest window and if that isn’t good enough, use grow lights or 2 fluorescent light bulbs: one cool and one warm in the same unit. An easy fix for a few plants is to replace a table lamp bulb with a grow light bulb. Use a timer and keep it on for 8 to 12 hours, 2 to 6 inches away from the plants.
  • Knowing the names of your houseplants is important to know how to take care of them. Keep any name tags as they are a wealth of information and may include their botanical names. Most plants have numerous common names, which causes confusion, but they only have one botanical name. This makes researching a plant much easier, and certainly more accurate. 
  • Inspect plants often, especially if they are losing leaves, yellowing and looking sad. Look under the foliage for tiny insects that look like dust, teeny white flies, small webbing and/or tiny black droppings. When pests are detected spray with a solution of dish-washing liquid and lukewarm water. Just add enough soap to make it sudsy. Another option for total coverage is to dip small plants upside down in a sink or bucket of warm soapy water. For large houseplants, give them a soapy sponge bath. Don’t worry about getting soap on the soil as it will also kill any surface insects. Repeat in 7 days until the insects are no longer present. 
  • Houseplants are more prone to insects and disease when they are not receiving correct care. For example, spider mites appear with inadequate water and rot occurs with too much. 
  • Water houseplants when the soil is dry to the touch about ½ in depth. Use lukewarm water, not cold nor hot, to cover the entire soil surface. For cacti and succulents, water when the soil is dry, but not bone dry so the soil has shrunk away from the pot. It’s a good idea to check on all your houseplants once a week.
  • Plants that need watering daily or every other day, have outgrown their pots and need to be re-potted into a larger one. Select a container 1 or 2 inches larger, no more. This prevents over-watering and root rot.
  • A nice misting is a treat for all houseplants, especially orchids and bromeliads as they naturally grow in humid environments.
  • Close the drapes or just keep houseplants away from frozen windows when temperatures exceed minus 5 degrees.
  • Dusty plants appreciate a wipe down with a damp cloth. A little dish-washing liquid doesn’t hurt, but isn’t necessary. Avoid using yogurt, mayonnaise and commercial leaf cleaning solutions as they clog plant pores and attract even more dust. 
spider mites,houseplant insects,January gardening,January plants,winter gardening,winter pruning,houseplants,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Spider mites create a mottled appearance on the foliage. Look for their fine cobwebs under the foliage and in nooks and crannies.

Order Seeds & Plants

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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. ​
January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture

January ​Garden Chores

Click on any green items below to be redirected to a relevant page for more information. 
kale lancinato,black Tucsan kale,winter vegetables,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Kale is extremely winter hardy and doesn't mind being coated with frost and snow.
​Prune: It is time to prune dormant plants before they start to grow. For more click here. 
Prune: To tame and to promote more flowers on wisteria, grapes and apple trees, cut back all of their side shoots to a few buds. For more click here.
bad draining soil,saturated soil,wet soil,French drains,trench drains,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Take note of soggy areas now so you can take steps to fix the issue when conditions improve.
Soggy soils, flooding: Make note of flooded areas and where puddles fail to drain after 24 hours. Try to determine where the water is flowering from and where it’s settling so you can install a French drain when conditions improve.  Read more..
winter pansies,viola x wittrockiana,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
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.
Wash dirty pots: 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.

Catalogues: Order seeds, plants and plant supplies so you’ll be set for sowing seeds and planting.
outside planters in winter,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Don't worry about snow freezing plants to death. It's actually a great insulator.
Outside Planters: Make sure outside containers get a drink if they are under eaves and away from rain. For containers in the open, make sure they are not flooded, and move to a more sheltered location if needed. Don’t worry about snow as it is a great insulator, but do brush it off if it’s squishing the plants underneath.
protecting plants from animals in winter,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
If you can't beat 'em join 'em! Feed the critters if like to dine on sapling tree bark and other vulnerable plants.
Animal Damage: It’s tough out there for wildlife during the winter so don’t be surprised if they nibble at tree bark and evergreen foliage. Protect plants with wire fencing, chicken wire, tree wrap or burlap. Don’t forget to remove protection in spring. If you want to help critters survive the winter while protecting your plants at the same time, provide them with food. 

Birdies: They need our help during the winter as their food supply is scarce. Keep bird feeders, including suet well stocked and don’t forget the humming bird feeders.
hardwood cuttings,propagation,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticultureng,Amanda Jarrett
Take hardwood cuttings from trees and shrubs during the winter.
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. 

Dahlias, Glads etc: Check dahlias and other stored bulbs. Discard any rotten ones. Mist them if they are too dry and shriveling.

Thawing: 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, firm dislodged plants back into the ground and add a few inches of a winter mulch over top the plant and surrounding soil.
Southlands Nursery Vancouver,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Local nurseries that remain open this time of year offer winter treasures for the garden. Featured is Southlands Nursery in Vancouver.
Winter interest: Visit your local nursery and check out what is looking good: dwarf pines, spruce, junipers and other evergreen conifers, azaleas, heathers and other broadleaf evergreens, red twig dogwood, paperbark maples and other plants with attractive stems and bark.

Down South

Rossioglossum grande,tiger orchid,orchids in winter,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
In warmer zones, watch out from surprise frosts by keeping an eye on the temperature, especially on cloudless nights. Use tablecloths, old sheets and other breathable fabric to cover your favorite frost tender plants. Bring inside any potted orchids such as this Tiger orchid, Rossioglossum grande.

Winter Pruning 

suckers,watersprouts,dormant pruning,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Remove suckers and watersprouts. They are easy to spot as they grow vertically. Cut them off at their base.
Did you know that winter pruning actually promotes growth? It also encourages watersprouts and suckers. So why prune in winter? For one thing, it's really easy to see a plant's structure so it's easy to see what's going on. Look for errant growth such as crossing branches, especially those that rub. Remove all dead branches, dying, broken and damaged ones. Cut off suckers and watersprouts at their base. They grow perfectly upright and don't branch. They form along branches, sometime on the trunk, from branch stubs and and from base of the tree.

Prune again in summer if you want to restrict growth. Summer pruning also reduces subsequent suckers and watersprouts. To learn what to prune in winter, and what not to, click here for more on Winter Pruning. 

Pruning Grapes 
​(& Wisteria)

winter grape pruning,winter wisteria pruning,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
Prune back grape vines (and wisterias) while they are dormant. To train grape plants, prune off the lower branches so the grape vines have one main trunk. From that main stem, keep just a couple of lateral branches, one on each side of the trunk. Tie each of the side branches along a fence, wire or other form of a lateral, horizontal support. Along the stems of both grapes and wisteria there are many side stems referred to as lateral branches. Cut back each of these stems to two to four buds. You'll be left with a scrawny plant when you are finished, but along each one of those stems that you cut back to a few buds, flowers will form. For more on pruning grapes click here.
winter grape pruning,winter wisteria pruning,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
This diagram shows how to prune a grape vine when it is dormant.

Learn How to Prune in Your Garden!
If pruning your own plants seems a bit daunting, and you don't know where to start, Amanda will show you how. Take the fear and uncertainty out of pruning and gain confidence. Your garden will thank you. For more information and to register click here.

January Arrangement

January plants,January flower arrangement,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
A mixed bouquet of orange rose hips, fluffy pampas grass, yellow spidery Chinese witch hazel flowers, red holly berries with their spikey foliage, red cotoneaster berries , and yellow kale flowers.
  • lower left: Silver Queen Euonymus, E. fortunei ‘Silver Queen’
  • mid left: English holly, Ilex aquifolium
  • upper left: yellow flowers: Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis
  • top left beige plume: pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana
  • top orange berries: rose hips
  • top spiky green leaves: rosemary
  • top drooping leaves: lily-of-the-valley shrub, Pieris japonica
  • top right small pink flowers: winter heath, Erica carnea
  • lower right hanging red berries: late cotoneaster, C. lacteus
  • lower centre yellow flowers: kale (honest!)
Click here for more monthly floral arrangements.
January flower arrangement,January gardening,January plants,dormant pruning,winter pruning,dormant oil lime sulfur,control of overwintering insects & diseases,Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’,topping trees,winter gardening,Canadian seed and plant catalogues,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,landscaping,horticulture
A close-up of this month's arrangement.

Plant of the Month
Pink Dawn Bodnant Viburnum  
​             Viburnum
 x bodnantense 
‘Pink Dawn
’     
       


Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Fragrant pink flowers of the Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum blossom on naked stems before the leaves emerge.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Pink Dawn viburnums flower in the depth of winter through early spring.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Their flowers provide food for butterflies when not much else is in bloom.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Their deep green leaves are quite attractive.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Place bodnant viburnums near doors and windows to enjoy their heavenly scent.
Common Name: Pink Dawn bodnant viburnum
Botanical Name: Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’
Form:   upright, narrow to vase-shape
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Viburnum
Hybrid: x bodnantense
Plant Type:  multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
Mature Size: 8’-10’ x 4’ x 6’
Growth: moderate
Origin: garden hybrid - cross between V. farreri & V. grandiflorum
Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Foliage: green, 2-4" long, toothed, ovate and narrow, deep red fall colour
Flowers: fragrant tubular pale pink flowers held in flattish droopy 1-2" wide clusters on leafless stem from winter into
Fruit: showy red berries mature to black in fall
Stems: cinnamon colour
Exposure: sun to part shade
Soil: moist, well-drained
Uses: specimen, spring/winter gardens, hedge, hedgerow, woodland garden, shrub borders, foundations, cur flower, screen, fragrant, butterfly and bird gardens
Propagation:  softwood cuttings in summer
Pruning: right after flowering
​Problems: flowers vulnerable to frost damage so place in protected location
Comments: 
This hybrid viburnum has something to offer throughout the year: late winter to early spring bubble-gum pink fragrant flowers, nice shape with green foliage in the summer, attractive berries in fall with colourful autumn foliage. It’s easy to grow with no pests and provides a winter garden with heady fragrance from their delicate drooping flower clusters.
 
Not only does the bodnant viburnum cheer up a dull winter garden, it also attracts wildlife. Butterflies love the perfumed flowers and birds devour the berries.
 
Bodnant viburnums tend to get leggy with age and bear fewer flowers. To rejuvenate them totally remove a third of the older stems right down to the base and cut back the remaining stems by one-third right after they finish flowering. 
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
It must be fall as these leaves are beginning to change colour to a dark red.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’ bodnant viburnum,January plant of the month,winter flowers,fragrant flowers,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Bodnant viburnums are perfect for hedges, screens as well as specimens for the garden.

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. 
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If you are looking for work or if you wish to post a position please go to Job Postings.​

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Learn How to Garden Introduction 
  • Planting Know How
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 ​ Growing Food Introduction
  • Crop Succession, Crop Rotation, Companion Planting
​Pruning
Lawns
Container Growing 101
  • Choosing a Container
Monthly Flower Arrangements
Growing Roses Introduction 
  • Types of Roses
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Mulching & Types Introduction
  • Living Mulches – Groundcovers​
Fertilizing & Feeding Plants Introduction
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Propagation Introduction
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​Amanda’s Blog
Plant of the Month

for the tropical Gardener

Ornamental Tropical Shrubs,Pineapple Press,Amanda Jarrett,thegardenwebsite.com
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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