Thoughts turn to spring

Erica Gilliam says winter is a gardener's time to dream.

"Winter is absolutely the most ideal time to sit down with a blanket, cuddle up in the sunlight by a window and enjoy those plant and seed catalogs," said Gilliam, a master gardener in Henrico County.

It's also a time to ready your garden for spring. There are plants to prune, tools to clean, seeds to buy, structures to repair, compost heaps to turn and vegetable and flower beds to plan.

Gilliam was outside on a recent freezing-cold morning to measure and plan a vegetable garden. She's also been busy sharpening tools and cleaning out her gardening shed.

"Having all of your equipment ready for spring is a terrific thing," she said.

If you can't wait for warm weather to get your hands dirty again, here are some winter tasks that will boost your spirits and your garden's productivity:

Read. Scour garden books and magazines for ideas. Research favorite plants. Make a diagram drawn to scale before placing a seed or bulb order. Remember this rule of thumb for planning perennial gardens: The garden's width should be about twice the height of the tallest plant growing in it.

Start a journal. Include projects that you'd like to complete. Sketch designs for your garden. Log in the weather. Describe what's going on in your garden on a specific day. "These are wonderful to look back on and read in future years," Gilliam said.

Scrutinize. Examine your land in the stark winter days, looking for places where an evergreen might go nicely. Visit a greenhouse or nursery and talk with experts about your growing questions. Ask them about plants best suited for your conditions.

Clean. Clean out birdhouses in preparation for the arrival of new occupants in February. Clean garden tools, pots and the shed. Sharpen clippers. Throw out or recycle broken pots. Freshen the paint on wooden garden boxes and outdoor furniture.

Repair. Put the lawnmower in for an annual checkup/blade sharpening/oil change. Repair arbors and trellises while growth is minimal and plants won't be disturbed.

Cut/prune. Prune and trim plants while they're dormant. Limit cutting to no more than a third of the total bud and leaf-bud-bearing branches. Cut to the tree's natural shape rather than scalping. Don't prune maples, birches, dogwoods and walnuts until summer or fall. Prune needle-type evergreens only to remove diseased or damaged wood. Pines and spruces don't bounce back well from bad haircuts. Lightly prune crape myrtles in late winter. Prune shrubs that flower after May 15 in late winter or early spring; those that bloom before May 15 should be pruned as soon as they finish flowering. Hold off on rose pruning until after Feb. 14.

Compost. Continue to add layers to and occasionally turn your compost heap.

Take courses. Local extension agents offer master gardening classes January through March. Take a class at a public garden, such as Maymont and Lewis Ginter. Join a garden club. Attend local garden shows.

Contact Julie Young at (804) 649-6732 or .