January Home Maintenance and Garden Chores

January, for most, is kind of a downer when it comes to gardening.  The only bright spot is that you can spend the short gray days planning away for your upcoming garden.  Most seed catalogs will start showing up in the mailbox, as therapy, lay them out and roll in them.  It totally helps the winter blues, I promise.

I’m lucky, in that the weather is mild, and I can still get outside.  My big garden project for the month is to dig out the 10′ x 45′ section of grass in the upper lawn to make way for my new mini Monticello vegetable garden.  I’d also like to create a garden map as well so I’ll know where to plant everything when the time comes.

Seeds to start indoors in January

For milder climates, you can start artichokes, leeks, onions indoors for an early spring crop. I also started a tray of sage under grow lights as well. Starting them now will free up the grow light for next month when you can plant a few more items.

Seeds to start outdoors in January 

None! It’s too cold.

What I Plan to Transplant Outside this Month

My new Meyer lemon tree arrived today so I plan on potting it up and placing it on on covered porch. Planting a lemon tree is super easy, if you are interested, go HERE to find out how.  This is the perfect way to get a fruit tree if all you have is patio space, as they totally do not mind being in a pot.

Plants/ Bulbs/ Trees I Plan to Purchase this Month

I’ve been toying with the idea of planting a row of blueberry bushes alongside the house/road.  I like to order from Raintree nursery.  The key with blueberry bushes is to give them pretty acidic soil {throw some pine needles in the hole before you plant them up} AND to plant more than one.  Really, your best bet is to plant a few of different varieties.  They seem to pollinate better that way.

Vegetables to Harvest this Month

None. 🙁  Unless you count grabbing a jar from the pantry from food you put up last season.

Houseplants and Indoor Bulbs Maintenance

I’m thinking about getting an orchid this year.  They are so elegant looking, and really don’t require a ton of care.  January is also a great time to force bulbs indoors, so that you will have flowers ready in early, early spring.  I forced some daffodils a couple of years ago, and it made my whole house more cheerful.

Basic Yard Maintenance 

Depending on your location, there may not be a ton you can do this month.  I’ll be trimming the boxwood hedge, pruning more trees so the grass will be able to grow in the spring, and prepping the yard for garden space. Oh, and trying not to chop off a limb with my new reciprocating saw. January is a good month to prune fruit trees, if you have them.  If you can’t get outside, just consider this your month off.

Home Maintenance Outside 

Take down the Christmas lights. Seal any drafts that are now super noticeable with the chilly air. Shovel walks and drives.  Stand on your front porch and try to peer into the neighbors windows. 😉

Home Maintenance Inside

January is the perfect time to de-clutter the house.  Delve in and get it done so that you can free up the later months for fun things, like digging in the dirt.  Replace the filter in your furnace, as it has been probably working overtime since November.  Tackle any of those projects that are too tedious to do when it’s nice outside, like cleaning the blinds, the plant shelves, or the vacuuming out the return vent.

Most of my advice is geared around the Northwest, but you can find your garden zone HERE and tweak my suggestions as necessary.