It’s Never Too Early to Start Planting! Bigelow Tea’s January Garden Tips.

Image Courtesy of Thegardenhelper.com

“January is the quietest month in the garden.
But just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.
The soil, open to the sky, absorbs the pure rainfall while
microorganisms convert tilled-under fodder into usable nutrients for the next crop of plants.
The feasting earthworms tunnel along, aerating the soil
and preparing it to welcome the seeds and bare roots to come.”
~ Rosalie Muller Wright

Each new year brings with it a sense of rebirth, renewal and, most importantly, hope.  What better way to celebrate the beginning of 2010 than to plant the seeds of life in your garden?  Be proactive!  Don’t let the cold weather deter you from your green “to-do” list.  Remember, you can always warm up later by curling up in your favorite armchair, with a steaming cup of Bigelow Tea.

Since Sustainabili-TEA is a way of life for us at Bigelow Tea, we will share a few January garden tips, just to help get you started:

• If your soil is workable (not frozen or too wet) begin to plant bulbs and winter vegetables like broccoli.
  

  Image Courtesy of Hsus.org

• Prune your deciduous trees and shrubs.
• Fireplace ashes can be saved, and used as fertilizer for alkaline soil plants such as Irises.
• If you have a Christmas tree to dispose of, use the branches as mulch.
• Don’t throw away your Poinsettias!  They usually last until March; then you can cut back the stems (to 8” tall), keep in indirect sunlight with moderately moist soil. When the weather warms up, transplant into a larger pot – outdoors. Flowers will start to re-bloom in October.
• And, please, remember to feed the birds!

Happy January!