Utah's First
Family Nursery
It’s true, the month of January, with its cold weather and snowfall, doesn’t exactly scream gardening, but there are actually plenty of things you can be doing this time of year to make the most out of your gardening season. There’s a quote that we love from author, Josephine Nuese that goes:
“Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year: For gardening begins in January with a dream.”
We couldn’t agree more!
January is for dreaming & designing, pondering & planning, so that come springtime, you are ready to hit the ground running. There are also a few things around your Utah garden you should be keeping an eye on, so here are some garden tips & ideas to keep you busy this month:
Make sure to keep heavy snow loads brushed off of your shrubs and small trees to prevent breakage. Gently brush the snow off by hand or with a broom. Don’t shake the branches, as they are likely brittle this time of year. In the case of ice, let it melt, instead of trying to remove it.
To prevent ice and snow build-up, you can wrap your trees or shrubs with twine to keep multiple leaders together.
H2: Stay Off Dormant Frozen Lawns
If you can, stay off your frozen lawn in order to protect the plant crowns from breakage. When the lawn appears frosted, the blades of grass are frozen and walking or mowing will cause damage that will make it so your lawn won’t be able to bounce back quickly in spring. This could cause more work for you.
Check On Your BulbsCheck on your stored bulbs such as begonias, cannas, and callas a few times throughout the winter to make sure that they are still firm. Throw out any bulb that is mushy or moldy to prevent them from ruining the whole bunch. If it’s just a small mushy patch, you may be able to salvage the bulb by removing the spot with a sterilized knife.
If you notice that the bulbs are getting too dry, you may need to moisten the storage medium with a mist of water.
This is the really exciting part. Start thinking about everything you want to grow in your garden, and how you want it to look. Read through catalogs for plants and ideas you may want to incorporate into your planting beds. Order seeds or plugs early if they need to be started early indoors, and to get the best selection! A fantastic way to keep track of all of your ideas is with a garden journal.
Every garden & gardener is unique and so every garden journal is unique as well. A garden journal can be anything you want it to be. You can use anything from a regular notebook, your computer, or a planner, to a commercially made garden journal.
Here’s a local Utah notebook designer company that we love! Not only can you support local artists, but your purchase will also help to build schools. That’s a win-win.
The point of the journal is to plan ahead, keep track of what you are growing, and note what went right and what went wrong. From year to year, you’ll be able to look back at your journals, celebrate your successes, and learn from your challenges.
Like we said before, there’s no right or wrong way to keep a garden journal. Each is unique to the gardener. But whether you have a small vegetable garden or are landscaping a large property, there are a few basic things you can keep track of in your journal.
A great way to start is to log your plant hardiness zone, which is the standard gardeners can use to figure out what plants thrive best in their zone. Our garden center in Utah is a zone 6, even though the USDA map has us listed as a zone 7a. The wild weather here in Utah creates a lot of microclimates that can be tricky to ascertain. Some local resources with a bit more guidance about many microclimates in Utah are Conservation Garden Park and USU Extension Services, both are excellent resources for Utah gardeners.
Another important thing to keep track of would be your average spring and fall frost dates.
It helps to split your garden journal into different sections, which could include: planning, sketches, seeds & plants, a calendar, a growth log, expenses, maintenance, etc. Organize your journal to suit your needs and your garden.
Setting up your garden journal is a great way to keep yourself busy while you wait for spring. When it comes to planning, we’d be happy to have you come into Glover Nursery where you can talk to one of our knowledgeable specialists about preparing your garden. You can also schedule a landscaping consultation here.
Do you know how to make your plants thrive? This article will tell you about the tips that will help you be your plants SuperHero this year.
So many people picked up the good habit of gardening over the last few years. Here at Glover Nursery we’ve noticed that the number of new gardeners we’re helping keeps going up and up every year. And we love it!
Plant Gardening is an incredible hobby. Not only does it bring you joy, it can help keep you in good health. There’s extraordinary benefits that you gain both body and soul when you garden.
We know how good gardening is for each and every human and that’s why we want to make sure that new gardeners know how to give that good ole TLC right back to the plants in your life.
The number one issue we see with new gardeners is a lack of understanding around under/over watering. Below are 5 tips to show you how to be your plants SuperHero and keep them strong and thriving throughout the year. It may take time, patience, and some trial-and-error but you can save the day and be your plants’ superhero by following these steps:
Plants need water. But did you know that not only too little but too much water can be a problem?
UnderwateringThis is the number one reason we see plants returned here at the nursery. To be a gardener in Utah is to understand that we live in a desert. Very few plants can survive here without regular watering. There are a few times a year where we can rely on rain/snow but for the most part your plants will need watering assistance from you throughout the year. Even in the winter!
Signs that you may be underwatering: your plant is wilting or drying out or you may even notice burn spots on the leaves. If you notice this it’s a sign that your plant needs to be watered more regularly. Start with a good long soak then up your regular watering schedule until you see the plant return to its regular perky, happy, healthy green.
If you have been overwatering, the soil will be moist and the leaves will be yellowish. Overwatering can cause the roots to rot. To fix this, stop watering ASAP, and if you can, move the plant out of direct sunlight until the soil that dries. To avoid this mistake, look up your plant to figure out what its exact watering preferences are. You can also snap a photo and send it to the experts here at Glover Nursery. We’re happy to help you diagnose your plant's issues and get it back to health. You can submit an inquiry via our website plant diagnosis form here.
In order to let the plant focus on new growth, you must remove dead leaves and branches. This is also called pruning. You can use a pair of scissors or shears to cut away brown leaves and dead branches. Every plant has it’s perfect season for pruning. A quick internet search will reveal your plant's best time for a little hair cut. It may feel like you’re harming the plant, but you’re helping it so much in the long run!
Different plants need different amounts of light - some plants prefer hours of exposure to direct sunlight, others thrive in the shade. Make sure you know which your plant prefers and plant it/place it in your home accordingly. If a plant is getting too much or not enough sunlight, it could contribute to its decline. Just adjusting it’s sun exposure can make all the difference!
Maybe your plant is malnourished and not getting all of the nutrients it needs.You can remedy this using fertilizer or compost. Signs of a malnourished plant include weak stems and discolored leaves. Glover Nursery recommends: TKTK to help revive your plant.
Check your plant for any hint of green - even if your plant is completely brown, it may still be alive! If you can’t find any sign of life in the leaves or stems, see if you can check the roots. The roots are the plant’s support system and can provide plenty of insight into the health of your plant. If the roots are plumb and tan or white, they are likely getting enough water and nutrients to keep the plant going. If the roots are healthy, you are back in business. Your next step is figuring out what is going wrong. You can submit a photo to the experts here at Glover Nursery and we’ll help you diagnose your plant and get it back on the road to health.
The best way to bring your plant back to life is to go through these steps slowly. Too many changes at once could overwhelm your plant. Once you’ve figured out the problem, stick with those habits to ensure your plant lives a long happy life. If you have any questions about being your plants superhero or need help figuring out how to care for your plant, you can ask our plant diagnosis team.
Updates, Sales, and Gardening Tips
9275 S. 1300 W. West Jordan, UT 84088 Phone: (801) 562-5496 Fax: (801) 562-5595 Email: [email protected]
Updates, Sales, and Gardening Tips
