It is hard to get creative in the depths of winter but this is the best time to think through your Spring and Summer planting plans. We often find ourselves getting inspired in the middle of the season thinking back about what we should’ve done over the Winter. So here is a list of to do’s and a little inspiration.
Start your seeds.
Whether you’re planning a vegetable garden, plan on sprucing up a bed with annuals, or even if you want to start some of your perennials, growing from seed is a low cost way to get your dream garden started.
Set up a grow space with a few grow lights. The tops of the plants should optimally be 6 inches from the light source. You can set up a fluorescent fixture or a simple plant light, both are available at your local home improvement store. Creating something where the light can move up over time will allow the plant to grow best over time.
Spend this time to plan out your garden. You can save a lot of money and get a lot more creative by starting not only your vegetables indoors but also your annuals. Pansies are so easy to get from seed it’s crazy to pay for grown plants. Cornflowers, strawflowers, marigolds, cosmos… a huge explosion of color for your summer beds. Even smaller perennials can give you a head start on your garden for cheap, started indoors. Think blue eyed grass, pincushion flowers, coreopsis, penstemons, and others.
On mild days, get outside and prune your shrubs. These plants are conserving energy right now and in the spring they will push energy only into the branches you leave for them. This isn’t a time for very hard pruning, but shaping.
Clean out your outdoor containers. This is the time to ensure that there are no lingering pathogens. In order to do this, plug up the bottom of your container so that it doesn’t leak. Fill it up with a solution of 10% bleach. Let it soak for 10 minutes. If you are unable to plug up the container, put the solution in a spray bottle and spray the inside of the container so that they stay wet for 10 minutes.
Finally, here are some beautiful winter images. It may still be dark out there, but remember to always appreciate the beauty around you.
Green Your Thumb 