Its cold and the snow is blowing. All you want to do is get out in the garden, play in the soil and smell some flowers. Even weeding would be a pleasure this time of year. I have good news for you. This blog is chocked full of winter gardening activities you can enjoy right now.
Don’t wait until spring – start gardening now and chase those winter doldrums away.
Start Annual and Perennial Seeds in January
Try winter sowing. It’s easy, requires no indoor lights, and anyone can do it. The bonus is that you will produce tough little plants that will do great in the garden.
If the above does not play, try this link: https://youtu.be/SO_KKbGYTEM
Improve Your Front Yard Garden Design
Winter is a great time to plan some changes in your garden and a good place to get ideas is from your neighbors. Walk around your neighborhood and evaluate the front yards on a day when you don’t have too much snow. Then use the ideas to improve your garden.
This free ebook, 24 1/2 Garden Design Ideas, will show you how I do this to get great ideas for my garden.
To get your free copy, click here: http://www.gardenmyths.com/24-1-2-garden-design-ideas/
Go on a Virtual Garden Tour
Visit my garden.
If the above does not play, try this link: https://youtu.be/5F6GiRgoC8M
Consider Building a Natural Pond
Or just go and visit two great natural ponds.
If the above does not play, try this link: https://youtu.be/EKN5OvOqyqo
Test Your Seed Using a Germination Test
I know you have old seed squirreled away in the fridge or cupboard – we all do. Is that seed still good? If not get rid of it.
If you don’t test the seed you can’t be sure it will germinate in spring. Do you want to sow your carrots in spring only to find out none germinate? Now, is the time to do a germination test so that you know if you need to buy fresh seed.
If the above does not play, try this link: https://youtu.be/6ZLiA7pv7GQ
Read a Good Gardening Book
I’d love to have you buy one of my books, but I also offer a long list of free books on this site. They are all pdf files that do not need a reader. Just select a book, download it, and its yours for free.
Click here to get free gardening books.
If you know of other free online gardening books, please leave a comment and link below and I’ll consider adding it to the list.
It’s Time to Think About Pruning
The best time to prune most shrubs is late winter. Go for a walk in your garden and examine each tree and shrub. Now is a good time to see problems because there are no leaves to get in the way. Make a list of the plants that need some attention over the next few months.
Brush up on your pruning techniques. Try my master pruning course on Udemy. Or watch this pruning video on my YouTube channels Garden Fundamentals.
If the above does not play, try this link: https://youtu.be/3UNWji21r6Y
Learn About Starting Seeds
I have put together a YouTube playlist that includes all of my seed germination videos. They will help you become an expert at germinating all kinds of seed; annuals, grasses, bulbs, perennials, shrubs and trees.
If the above does not play, try this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dirz0WIMQi0&list=PLq7hmpP9i05Ska3k7gaBCvNCT9gN_tYaj
Think About Adding Art to Your Garden
I think art is extremely important in a garden and selecting the right piece and placing it correctly is important. This post will give you some good insights on how to do this.
10 Reasons for Adding Art to Your Garden
Listen to Some Great Podcasts
I have been interviewed on several podcasts that you can listen to right now. List of Podcasts.
Dear Robert Pavlis, I’m a big fan of your no-nonsense debunking of garden myths. I know you are right, based on my working as a professional Ph.D. chemist. But, sad to say your correct advice mostly is overwhelmed on the Internet. For every paragraph you write, literally MILLIONS of websites post false information. I have to be on constant guard whenever Googling for garden info; remembering to check back with your facts setting things straight … not always an easy task. May I suggest you somehow embark on a massive *professionally managed* publicity campaign, to try and help future gardeners who care about the wellbeing of their plantings? Thank you for continuing the good fight.
I agree the forces are against me, but I do convert a few at a time. Not sure how One would do the massive campaign. I think you would need a large company backing you who would get benefit, but many of the myths actually hurt commercial companies.