top of page
TELCS
​
January in the California Garden
Some images include links to informative websites and videos. Click on the image, then follow the link at the bottom.
Get Cozy!
Tend to indoor plants, including washing their leaves, remove dead leaves, and make sure they do not dry out. They might even need more sunlight.
House plants in commercial office spaces may also need attention. If plants are rented or maintained by a company, inspect your office's plant life to see if anything needs changing out for fresher greens.
Below is a link to a plethora of articles about house plant care from The Spruce.
House plants in commercial office spaces may also need attention. If plants are rented or maintained by a company, inspect your office's plant life to see if anything needs changing out for fresher greens.
Below is a link to a plethora of articles about house plant care from The Spruce.
Be a Rosarian
With our more mild climate comes roses that are forgetting to go to sleep over the winter.
All too often, their leaves and even a few blooms might linger through winter, which lessens their performance capability in spring. Throughout the winter months it is time to give them a good pruning, and if any leaves are still remaining, strip them off, too!
There are many ways to prune roses, but follow tips from reputable rosarians for the best solutions. See below for one such link. Key to understanding rose pruning is knowing the type of rose (shrub, tea, climber, etc.) that will dictate style and extent of pruning. If you plan to do it on your own, it's okay to experiment one year, learn by observation over the summer how the plant performs, then refine your pruning practice the following year.
If, however, you manage roses at a commercial landscape site, you might have to be more demanding of your landscaper to do a good job. I have observed short cuts where commercial landscape roses are concerned, and the end results are unhealthy, poorly blooming specimens. Learn from the experts, then convey your expectations to your landscape service provider. Your roses deserve better!
All too often, their leaves and even a few blooms might linger through winter, which lessens their performance capability in spring. Throughout the winter months it is time to give them a good pruning, and if any leaves are still remaining, strip them off, too!
There are many ways to prune roses, but follow tips from reputable rosarians for the best solutions. See below for one such link. Key to understanding rose pruning is knowing the type of rose (shrub, tea, climber, etc.) that will dictate style and extent of pruning. If you plan to do it on your own, it's okay to experiment one year, learn by observation over the summer how the plant performs, then refine your pruning practice the following year.
If, however, you manage roses at a commercial landscape site, you might have to be more demanding of your landscaper to do a good job. I have observed short cuts where commercial landscape roses are concerned, and the end results are unhealthy, poorly blooming specimens. Learn from the experts, then convey your expectations to your landscape service provider. Your roses deserve better!
Walking Bare Root
Plant bare root trees and woody shrubs found in nurseries right after the holidays. Avoid planting if temperatures drop below freezing, as the roots might be damaged in the cold soil.
Similarly, mail order companies will be shipping bare root shrubs and trees over the winter, so be prepared to plant them as soon as they arrive. One of my favorite companies for bare root fruit trees is Trees of Antiquity (no sponsorship here) that always has something unusual not found in local shops....but the time to order is late summer/fall before things sell out.
For facility managers, this is a great time to inspect your company's landscape for any holes in the landscape. Coordinate replacement plants with your landscape designer or contracted service provider.
Similarly, mail order companies will be shipping bare root shrubs and trees over the winter, so be prepared to plant them as soon as they arrive. One of my favorite companies for bare root fruit trees is Trees of Antiquity (no sponsorship here) that always has something unusual not found in local shops....but the time to order is late summer/fall before things sell out.
For facility managers, this is a great time to inspect your company's landscape for any holes in the landscape. Coordinate replacement plants with your landscape designer or contracted service provider.
Busted!
Winter might be the last season on your mind for testing irrigation, but it's also the perfect time before irrigation is seriously needed. And surprise! In our droughts, irrigation may need to run a few times in the winter as well, so this is not the time to rest on our laurels. Test the irrigation and repair leaks.
For corporate and public landscapes, this means making sure your landscape maintenance provider does their part by testing the system and verifying if any repairs are needed. Do they provide you with irrigation reports? If not, consider adding that to their services so you can keep track of their work and plant performance. If you are looking for a new service, seek Qualified Water Efficient Landscapers that can help find ways to safe water. See link below.
For corporate and public landscapes, this means making sure your landscape maintenance provider does their part by testing the system and verifying if any repairs are needed. Do they provide you with irrigation reports? If not, consider adding that to their services so you can keep track of their work and plant performance. If you are looking for a new service, seek Qualified Water Efficient Landscapers that can help find ways to safe water. See link below.
Citrus Boom!
Any winter gloom can be wiped away with harvesting citrus. Their bright, warm colors and tasty, tangy treats are ripe for the picking and even sharing. Sadly, I see too much fruit drop in neighborhoods that others could enjoy. Share with neighbors, or consider joining an urban foraging group (link below for NPR's article). There's a map for that!
bottom of page