January is a key month for planning, planting, and pruning in Southern California gardens. Some tasks include taking inventory of existing plants and purchasing replacements, ordering seeds, planting trees and perennials, pruning deciduous plants, and dividing grasses. Flowers like currants and manzanitas are highlighted this month, and pests like snails should be monitored. Enjoying the early signs of spring by observing birds and seedlings is also recommended.

1. January in the Southern California Garden
Each month has its special joys and tasks in the garden. Below is a suggested calendar for January. Remember that
gardening depends on the weather, so tasks may vary from year to year.
Best of Show:
 Flowers: Ribes (currants/gooseberries), Arctostaphylos (Manzanitas), * Hyptis emoryi, Xylococcus bicolor, Encelias
 Fruits/berries: Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon), Symphoricarpos (Snowberry) spp.; citrus fruit are showy
 Foliage/branches: Arctostaphylos (Manzanitas), any winter-deciduous tree/shrub – bark & branch architecture
Planning:
 Take a critical look at your garden. Are there any plants that are too large? Unheathy? A poor choice? Are there bare spots in the
garden that need filling? Now is a good time to purchase and plant replacements.
 Visit nurseries to choose/purchase manzanita and ceanothus when in bloom
 Check out the seed catalogs on-line; order traditional warm-season vegetable seeds
 Take photos of seedlings so you’ll recognize them
Hardscape/General:
 Rake up leaves if needed; rake/level paths while they are moist from rains
 Check hardscape, slopes, trees after heavy rains
Propagation:
From seed:
 check seeds stratifying in refrigerator; plant out in nursery pots when tiny roots emerge
Planting: major planting month
 The best month for planting native plants, from large trees to small perennials, grasses and annuals
 Plant bare-root and containerized fruit trees of all kinds (native and traditional)
Watering:
 Water-in all new plants; then water again a week later if needed
 Check soil moisture during prolonged dry periods (3 or more weeks) or windy periods; irrigate as needed to supplement
 Check seedlings daily in warm weather; water as needed
Pruning:
 Prune to thin:
 winter-deciduous trees/shrubs – this is often our best month to prune all trees
 Rosa spp.
 Coppice (severely prune) to rejuvenate old plants
 Sambucus nigra cerulea
 Can still divide and replant native ornamental grasses, sedges, Sisyrinchium, rushes
 Divide & replant: perennials like Penstemon, gumplant, heuchera and yarrow as they begin their growth season

2.  Mow (if desired) cool-season sod-forming grasses, sedges
Weeds/Diseases/Pests: major weeding month
 Cool-season weedy grasses, Creeping woodsorrel, etc.
 Weed out native seedlings popping up in the wrong places (paths; beds; etc.)
 Watch for snails & slugs – take appropriate action
Edibles/Crafts:
 Spend a rainy day knitting/crocheting/sewing something from hand-dyed yard or cloth
 Make soap or candles using scented materials dried last fall
 Enjoy tangerines or oranges – including straight off the tree
 Make a cup of natural tea, or use the leaf spices you dried last year – more will be available soon!
Enjoying the garden:
 Buy a bird book and pair of binoculars; get to know the birds in your yard.
 Watch hummingbirds and others gather nesting materials and begin their courtship displays
 Sit in a warm spot and enjoy the feel of sunshine
 Notice seedlings & bulbs popping up; early blooming ones may already be forming flowers heads
1/9/2017