January Gardening Tips for the Pacific Northwest Region
Last updated: May 25, 2021
Is it too early to start planning your spring garden?
Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes.
~ Author Unknown
The month of January kicks off with a holiday parties, New Year’s resolutions and ends with us all dreaming of spring. It may be cold outside, but there are still a number of things to do in and for your garden in January if you live in the Pacific Northwest Region. Make sure you make the most out of this month by checking the follow tips off your to do list.
Pacific Northwest Region’s January Gardening Tips
Landscaping Tips
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends pruning your trees and shrubs this month while they are dormant.
- Start your very own compost pile this month. To find out how, please see: Compost Piles: What You Need To Know
- Some benefits of composting at home are compost can improve almost any soil, it suppresses damaging pests and diseases and it improves the soil’s structure and texture.
- Plant your bare-root trees, shrubs and roses this month.
- Attract birds to your garden by offering different feeders at different levels. Birds can be finicky eaters and different species prefer to eat at different levels.
Fruit and Vegetable Tips
- Organic Gardening reminds us to harvest our cool-weather greens this month like kale, arugula and spinach.
Perennial and Annual Tips
- Make sure to water your plants deeply when the temperatures are above freezing.
- According to Better Homes and Gardens, once you are at least within one month of your region’s frost date, you can plant your perennial flowers.
- Prune flowering perennials and roses this month.
- Do not prune your spring-blooming shrubs until after they flower.
Winter Tips
- Remove the fallen snow from your trees and shrubs to prevent branches from breaking.
- Protect your grass throughout the winter by limiting as much traffic on it as possible.
General Gardening Tips
- If the January weather is getting you down, start thinking about spring. You can start planning your spring garden today. Check out our article, Spring Garden Planning – 4 Tips When Planning Your Spring Garden.
Bringing it Home
While the month of January may be filled with cold weather, there are still many gardening tasks to be accomplished for those who live in the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. From landscaping to general gardening, these January gardening tips will help you take care of your garden.
