Welcome to a new year in the garden! If you’re like us, you must be itching to use all the gifts you got for the garden this year. But who says you have to wait until the spring to get growing? In this week’s blog, we’re here to share everything we can think of to get you all caught up on your gardening to-do’s so that you can dig right in when the soil is warm and ready!
Lawn & Pond
What lawn? The one buried under four feet of snow, or the one soaking up the mud?! Alright, chances are there is little you can do for your lawn in the month of January.. So why not learn a few handy tips for growing the green grass on your side of the fence? Here are a few of our favourite green-grass tips for the 2023 growing season and some important things to do for your pond this month.
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Understand your lawn’s lifecycle! The government of Canada has a great article available to help you better understand your lawn, so you can to the root of any issue! Check it out here. |
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Before it’s too late, protect animals and insects that help your lawn flourish by reducing insecticide and fungicide use. Only apply when necessary. |
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While the snow melts away, look for puddles in your lawn and mark them as areas that need proper drainage for when the soil warms up. |
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Instead of applying seed after seed in high traffic-areas, consider how your lawn might look with patio stones or mulch instead. |
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To be the first on the list, try scheduling any necessary pond maintenance, such as cleaning now before the waiting list leaves you last in line. |
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If you run your pond pump during the winter, raise it onto a ledge in the pond to recirculate only the top layer of water. |
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Watch water levels, as ice can cause overflow and cause damage to surrounding fixtures or plants. |
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There are two key elements to helping your pond fish survive the winter. The first is to ensure your fish don’t freeze, and the second is to ensure they’re getting adequate oxygen. To do this, you’re going to want to have a Pond Aerator or Aqua Jet Pump. Both will create a more stable environment for your fish by increasing air circulation, preventing your pond from freezing and providing your fish with the oxygen they need to survive while preventing unwanted gas build-up. |
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Add cold-water beneficial bacteria. |
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If keeping your pond running during the winter, add pond de-icer. |
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Due to their natural ability to hibernate, you must not feed your fish during winter. Their bodies adapt to survive such cold temperatures by lowering their metabolisms and using their energy to stay moving instead of digesting. Feeding your fish during this process will likely cause damage or death by choking or toxicity. |
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If your pond is already frozen, do not break the ice. Breaking into a frozen pond could be deadly for fish, either by striking them or stunning them from the vibrations. |
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To prevent damage, turn off any water fixtures like waterfalls. |
Plants & More!
If you’re an indoor grower, we suspect you might have collected a few extra companions to keep you company over the winter months. If not, that’s okay too. January can be a great time to planning, purchasing, sowing and even indoor ponding. Below we’ve detailed a few of our favourite things to do for January when it comes to plants—looking to try something new and exciting? See what our President Gord Nickel has to share in the Check News segment ‘Indoor Fountains and Peace Lily Plants’ below.
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Pre-orders for vines are now open! Be the first to pick your favourite vine plants before they’re gone! Don’t forget to check out all the new varieties for 2023! |
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Looking to try something new this year? You’re in luck! January is the busiest month for us in the seed department. With hundreds of need seeds trickling in each week. They’re ready to order and ship here! |
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Spring Bulbs and Fruits are ready for pre-orders! Lilies, Dahlias, Berries, Kiwis, Strawberries and much more! |
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If you can’t tell, January is a great time to plan your garden. If you haven’t already, we recommend planning out your space so that you don’t over shop, or under-plan! Whether you’re a balcony gardener or have your own yard, the more efficient you can be with your space, the more plants you can plan for! |
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For indoor plants, be sure to do your research on whether your plants water requirements. Check their soil often to see if the indoor heat is drying them out too much, if so re-locate to a more humid room. If placed near a window, check for frost bite and consider relocating. |
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Remove heavy snow fall from branches as the weight can cause damage which will invite unwanted pests and disease. |
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Continue composting—everything you save now with warm up in no time in the spring. |
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Keep feeding birds to help them during harsh winters. |
