January Garden To-Dos for Warm Weather Outdoor Entertaining
Your wedding is all about capturing the essence of you as a couple. That’s why it is so important to choose a location that means a lot to you. Maybe it’s the church you’ve attended most of your life, or a restaurant where the two of you met. Perhaps it’s the business venue suggested by a trusted friend or even by your wedding planner. But for some couples it’s the quaint, cozy familiarity of their own backyard.
As wedding budgets and guest lists shrink, the backyard has become the wedding venue of choice for many savvy couples. If you’re one of those couples and someone who also has a penchant for perfection, there are some things you can do now to get your backyard in shape for your big day. Even if you’re not using your backyard for a wedding, there’s a good chance that you’ll be using it to entertain before the year is out. Either way, it’s not too early to begin to think of a strategy for your backyard wedding and/or outdoor entertaining.
There are a few things you can do now, yes, even in January, that will put you ahead of the game.
- Assess your yard for space, design, and function. Consider spacing for tents, tables and chairs. You might want to create a small map of your yard and garden, and use it as a guide for your wedding and or entertaining layout.
- Use your newly developed map for ordering plants and seeds from the catalogs which will soon be arriving in the mail. Buy now for the best possible selection. Thank about your wedding color theme and make sure your flower, containers and accessories selection fits that theme.
- Clean, oil, sharpen and service tools such as shovels, and shears. Get your tools in tip-top shape so they are in full swing for the gardening season. Petrol mowers will benefit from a professional service.
- If you are planning on moving any plants in your garden it’s best to do it now when they’re dormant before they put on spring growth.
- Look out for plug plants (easy to grow plants that are great for vertical gardens). These small bedding plants offer great value for the money, and are available early in the year. Place them in pots, leave indoors only planting them outside after the risk of frost in your area.
- Tidy your borders. Cut back and clear dead foliage and the last of any fallen leaves. Take care not to damage emerging roots.
- Get creative and plan new borders if necessary. Use the traditional method, and take pencil to paper to work out perfect plant combinations for the new year.
- Check and firm in all newly planted shrubs and trees.
- Check Dahila tubers, Gladioli and Begonia corms that are being stored and remove any that are rotting.
- Remove snow from evergreen trees and shrubs.
- Please! Feed the birds and other small creatures that may not be able to find food due to snow.
Hmmmmm….. And you thought there was nothing to do in the garden this month…..
Until the next time butterflies, don’t forget to live out loud!!!
Photos by 100 Gardens.org, Home & Garden, Easy Living & House and Garden Designs
