10 Gardening Activities for January in the Southwest

1. Plant Asparagus Crowns

January is a great time to get asparagus planted. There are a number of varieties available, but some are better suited for hot climates. ‘Jersey Giant’ and ‘Jersey Knight’ have performed well in trials by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. They also have a good information on growing and caring for asparagus. You can get asparagus crowns through online retailers such as Burpee or Gurney's. As many gardeners will advise, make sure you choose the right location for your asparagus crowns because it will be several years before they produce edible spears, but after that they can produce for 15 to 20 years.

2. Plant Bare-Root Roses, Berries, and Grapes

It’s a good time of year to plant bare-root roses, blackberries, raspberries, and grape vines. Planting these bare roots when they’re dormant allows them to begin getting established before spring foliage growth begins. Typically, there’s also more moisture and it’s cooler out—but temperatures aren’t freezing; these are ideal growing conditions for roots. Check out these articles if you want specific advice on planting various type of bare-root plants: roses, blackberries, raspberries, and grape vines. Bare-root roses can be found through David Austin. Blackberries, raspberries, and grapes can be found through Stark Bros. Your local nursery will likely have these plants in stock too.

3. Transplant Starts for Cool-Season Produce

It’s time to transplant those cool-season vegetables and herb starts that you sowed back in late November or December. Crops such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, cilantro, dill, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, and more can all be hardened off and planted in garden beds. You can also direct sow arugula, carrots, parsnips, peas, radishes, and spinach. Use this seed sowing and transplanting calculator to figure out the best time to transplant based on your average last frost date.

4. Plant Cool-Season Flowers

Cool-season flowers add a pop of vibrant color to the garden early in the season. One of the best resources to buy or learn about annuals is Annie's Annuals & Perennials. They also have great videos on planting annuals as well as container combinations. Be sure to amend your soil with compost and fertilizer so your annuals have plenty of nutrients. If rains are inconsistent, follow a regular watering schedule with most annuals such as bachelor’s buttons, lupines, monkey flower, ornamental tobacco, poppies, tidy tips, and others.

5. Cut Back Roses

Even if your roses are healthy and the size you want, it’s important to cut them back to stimulate new growth and flowering. Follow these tips from rose experts at David Austin Roses or read up on rose pruning basics. If you live in a climate that still has freezing temperatures, then wait to prune until the weather warms. Typically, you want to prune in late winter or early spring.

6. Start Pruning Dormant Trees & Shrubs

In order to maintain the health of trees and shrubs, it’s important to prune for tree shape (to prevent snow and wind from breaking branches), to allow sunlight and airflow, as well as to remove dead or diseased branches. Take a look at one of the best quick articles and videos on winter pruning from the Chicago Botanical Garden. If you’re going to prune flowering shrubs or small trees read this article to learn more about when to prune shrubs more severely.

7. Prune Wisteria and Other Woody Vines

Winter is an important time to prune woody vines, especially vines such as wisteria that need to be pruned two times per year (once in winter and once in summer). Watch this video on pruning wisteria. Generally speaking, vines fall into two categories when pruning: those that flower on old wood and those that flower on new wood. Knowing how a vine flowers will determine how often and when you prune. Vines that flower in summer and fall on the current year’s growth should be pruned in late winter or early spring. Additionally, vines that are grown for their foliage should be cut back in winter before leaves emerge. This article from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden provides a comprehensive outline for vine pruning and discusses how to prune many of the most common varieties.

8. Sow Seeds for Summer Crops

If you’re planning on growing produce such as basil, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, squash, or tomatoes, then sow your seeds now. Use this calculator to find the exact window for sowing various crops based on your average last frost. Be sure to check your seed packets to see how old they are. Seeds have a shelf life if they are not stored chilled or frozen. Use this seed viability chart as a reference for determining if your seeds are too old to plant.

9. Consider a Garden Redesign

Before spring is in full swing, take a step back to evaluate the overall design of your garden. Think about new garden beds you may want to add or perhaps additional structures such as arbors, trellises, or paths. There are a number of landscape design rules to help you think about the design of your garden, and there are many garden design books to check out for ideas. If you’d rather leave the design to a professional, there are several online services that do remote renderings for a reasonable fee: Home Outside, Shrub Hub, and Yardzen.

10. Order Spring-Planted Bulbs, Corms & Tubers

It may still be a little early to get spring-planted bulbs in the ground, but it doesn’t hurt to shop early; that way you can be sure you get your first choices. Many of the best varieties of dahlias, lilies, eucomis, gladiolus, ranunculus, as well as many other bulbs, corms, and tubers sell out fast. Once the threat of frost has passed (which might be in late January, but could stretch into March or April in some zones), plant your bulbs in a sunny location. If you live in a climate with extreme heat like Phoenix, then part sun is fine. Be sure to provide your bulbs with bulb fertilizer such as Bulb-tone and just water once at the time of planting. Resume watering once foliage emerges from the ground and be consistent from that point on. Shop for bulbs at online retailers such as American Meadows, Brent and Becky's Bulbs, High Country Gardens, and Longfield Garden.