January in the garden

For many gardeners, a new year begins with the arrival of garden catalogs filled with color photographs and tantalizing descriptions. From allium to zinnia and aquatics to xeriscaping, catalogs offer hours of delicious contemplation about the many beautiful plants that might be perfect for the garden this year.

But the best catalogs aren't just for daydreaming. Expertly prepared by dedicated plants people, many offer insights into new cultivars that are more disease resistant or drought tolerant than the old options, as well as native plants that shouldn't be overlooked and cultural requirements that plants need to achieve maximum potential.

If your mailbox is short on these valuable sources of horticultural happiness, seed, bulb and nursery catalogs are easy to request; most sources provide toll-free telephone numbers or online forms. Don't know where to begin? The Plant Information Service of the Chicago Botanic Garden can recommend catalogs with plants that are appropriate for our Zone 5 conditions.

Here's what you need to do in the garden this month:

General garden care

h Use recycled Christmas tree branches, swags, wreaths and other evergreen material as mulch in garden beds. Lightweight, open evergreens permit moisture to reach the soil, but also insulate the roots and crowns of plants from the freeze-thaw-freeze cycle of Midwest winters.

h An alternate use for a holiday tree is to place it outdoors and decorate it with birdseed and suet ornaments that feed winter birds. Continue to supply fresh water for birds.

h When clearing driveways or shoveling walks, distribute snow loads evenly on shrubs and garden beds. Always shovel snow before using de-icing products.

h To protect plants, use potassium- or calcium-based de-icing products rather than sodium-based ones.

h During periods of thaw, water garden beds, turf and plants that received salt spray from roads. If necessary, construct burlap screening to protect plants.

h Monitor plants routinely for signs of animal damage; install additional physical barriers, if needed.

h If small plants have heaved out of the ground, gently press them back with your hands.

Trees and shrubs

h Light pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs can be done this month, weather permitting. Heavy pruning is best done in later winter or early spring immediately before bud break.

h When tree branches become covered with ice, it's best to let it melt naturally.

h If heavy snow anchors evergreen branches to the ground, gently sweep off snow with a broom and then elevate the branches from underneath.

h During periods of thaw, water newly planted trees and shrubs, and all evergreens.

h Check plants that host Eastern tent caterpillars overwinter: crabapple, apple, hawthorn, mountain ash, flowering cherry and other members of the rose family. If necessary, make plans to prune out any dark, iridescent egg cases encircling small twigs you find.

Flowering plants

h Amaryllis bulbs that have finished flowering will now send up leaves. Keep bulb and leaves in bright light and continue to water. Remove the flower stalk only after it turns yellow and withers.

h Flowering azaleas will bloom for months in a bright window when provided with even moisture, occasional misting and quick removal of spent blossoms.

h Cyclamen plants will continue to bloom for a few weeks when plants are kept in a north window of a cool room (55 to 60 degrees), soil is kept evenly moist but never soggy and spent blossoms are quickly removed. Avoid splashing the crown of the plant and foliage with water.

Houseplants

h Many houseplants are semidormant during winter and require less water and much less, if any, fertilizer.

h Succulent plants like cacti and jade plants are dormant in winter and may require no water for up to two months. Give plants bright light and a cool room.

h Continue to monitor houseplants for insect problems associated with stress from challenging winter conditions: insufficient light, low relative humidity, and improper watering and fertilizing techniques. Common pests to scout for are spider mite, scale, mealybug, whitefly and fungus gnat.