Even winter has gardening to-dos

Carlton County Extension

While some consider January and February to be a gardener’s “off season,” there’s actually plenty to do and see in the winter for the average gardener.

The following are some tips and activities to get you through the bitter cold months and to prepare for the upcoming gardening season.

Pruning

The best time to prune most trees and shrubs is late winter or the dormant season. Pruning changes the form and growth of a plant. Pruning can also be considered preventive maintenance for both insect and disease damage. Many problems can be prevented by pruning correctly during the formative years for a tree or shrub.

Repairs and cleaning

Fences, climbing plant structures, walls, plant supports, etc. are all easier to see and get to when plants are dormant. Winter is also the time to clean all tools, workspaces and garden sheds. Pots, tools, and glass panes all house bacterial and fungal infections as well as pests.

Researching

You can peruse the hundreds of new plant varieties for the next growing season in seed catalogs. Making sure the varieties are zoned for our area (zone 3 or 4 depending on where you live).

Planning

Grab a pencil and paper and actually draw a bird’s-eye view of your garden. You can mark where plants are currently located and where you want to put new show stoppers. You may want to add a new raised bed or a retaining wall. The possibilities are endless.

Visit a public garden

The Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul has beautiful indoor floral shows that are updated seasonally and the best part is that admission is free. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska has over 1200 acres of gardens and tree collections and miles of trails with many indoor activities and displays to check out in the winter. At Olcott Park Greenhouse and Botanical Garden in Virginia you can view a variety of tropical plants during all seasons, and especially enjoy the comfort and warmth of this unique indoor green space in the winter. Check with each location for hours and admission prices.

Attend a class

There are many workshops that are held in the late winter months. The Extension Office hosts monthly classes for the general public. On Feb. 19 there will be an apple workshop at the Carlton County Transportation Building. Other resources to check out are the Duluth Folk School, Fairlawn Museum in Superior, and local Community Ed papers.

The Carlton County Extension Office is staffed with a horticulture assistant and a Master Gardener coordinator. Research based information is available to all residents at no cost. Master Gardeners are a group of 25 volunteers ready to answer horticulture questions and will do presentations on various gardening topics. Call the office at 218-384-3511 or email [email protected].