Some people greet January with the post-holiday blues and are a pound or two heavier — or both. Not gardeners! (Well, maybe the weight gain part, but that will easily be worked off as the garden muscles get back into action.)
Turn any blues into New Year garden resolutions that can recharge your attitude and set January in motion — think and plan ahead to an abundant harvest and colorful landscape. Dreaming of spring is officially here.
Where to start? We all know the basics — what parts of the garden worked well and to your liking last year and what needs improvement. You can go as far as sketching out the current layout using internet tools to draw it to scale or do as I have done: winging it with lines and curves here and there along with x’s and o’s to distinguish trees from perennials. A visual blueprint helps you formulate an upcoming season game plan where you can make notes and play around with plant ideas and design.
If your budget permits, consider hiring a professional landscape designer or contractor, which I’ve also done with success over the years. They will see your outdoor digs with fresh ideas and help tremendously, especially if your goals include major plant conversions such as incorporating less water-thirsty plants, replacing turf areas or any other ideas you have. Always keep in mind when trying to conserve seasonal outdoor water that trees, shrubs and new plantings will always need water and your attention.
Now the fun begins (the dreaming of spring part,) whether you’re a DIY or working with a designer: deciding what plants are in the wrong place, need to be divided or, dare I say, moved on to the green pasture compost heap. Do the homework involved in researching new plants and suggested landscape facelifts or entire re-dos. This serves to confirm your choices and the final sign-off on proposals.
My plant homework includes reaching for my small library of garden books for plant and landscape ideas because they are regionally applicable, along with the help of my trusty computer search engine that often sends me on a three-hour plant thrill ride. Inevitably I find plants that shouldn’t be planted in a Zone 5 landscape. I eventually conclude that I can’t move to Arizona just so I can grow a Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi), two of my favorite plants that remind me of visiting my parents. who spent their retired winters living in their motor home parked in some of the most beautiful Arizona state parks.
To help with your research, don’t overlook the excellent garden education resources available locally. January is the time to sign up for a garden class or two from local, independent garden centers and botanic gardens. Check their websites for the latest class listings. Day-long garden seminars and symposiums are very popular up and down the Front Range through the winter months. Refer to the resources below for a list of workshops, events and more.
One of my often-used computer bookmarks takes me to the listings for CSU Extension free webinars, ranging in topics from seed starting, unique annuals and fire-resilient landscapes. Find the link under Planttalk below for recent past programs and new ones for 2025.
January is the perfect window to take stock of your seed-starting supplies and equipment and refresh your cache as needed. Outdoor seed starting for popular vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, and many annuals including zinnia, cosmos and sunflowers, won’t need to be started until March or later. If you’re using early planting equipment like cold frames, then getting seeds started sooner makes sense. Also, there are some plant seeds that need 10 or more weeks to germinate and be ready for planting outside. The short list includes artichokes, feverfew, chamomile, celery, angelonia, and bee balm. Planting charts which include annuals, herbs and vegetables timing and more information are under resources below.
Moisture has been very scarce along the Front Range. Our landscapes are dry. We need to act on behalf of our plants. Hook up hoses and sprinklers and deep water the newest landscape plants from last year, followed by trees, shrubs and perennials.
As you clear out and pack away past holiday decorations, do the planet a solid by recycling Christmas trees. Check with your local municipality if your county isn’t listed. Artificial tree recycling is doable, or consider donating or reusing, check the link for more tips.
Happy New Gardening Year!
Recycling Resources
Arvada Christmas tree recycling: arvadaco.gov/717/Christmas-Tree-Recycling
Boulder County Christmas tree recycling: westerndisposal.com/materials-management-center/#!/yard-waste
Broomfield Christmas tree recycling: broomfield.org/1031/Tree-Branch-Recycling-Facility
Denver Christmas tree recycling: https://www.denvergov.org
Fort Collins Christmas tree recycling: fcgov.com/recycling/atoz/items/?item=136
Greeley Christmas tree recycling: greeleygov.com/government
Lafayette Christmas tree recycling: lafayetteco.gov/2612/Christmas-Tree-Disposal
Littleton Christmas tree recycling: littletonco.gov/Community/City-Calendars/Events
Longmont Christmas tree recycling: longmontcolorado.gov/waste-services-trash-recycling-composting
Gardening resources
Colorado Gardener calendar: coloradogardener.com/calendar
How to recycle, reuse, or donate an artificial Christmas tree: marthastewart.com
Regional and timely garden information, including helpful online garden webinars: planttalk.colostate.edu/
Seeding and planting charts by Betty Cahill: https://gardenpunchlist.blogspot.com/2019/02/seeding-and-planting-charts-all-of-them.html
Winter watering: planttalk.colostate.edu
Betty Cahill speaks and writes about gardening in the Rocky Mountain Region.
