Happy New Year!  January is a slow month for gardening, but there are several steps you can take in order to be ready for spring! 

January and February are great months for pruning shade trees and fruit trees. 

If you have a water feature be sure to check the pumps throughout the winter.  Fountains with smaller pumps and piping should be turned off for the winter because they have a greater risk of freezing. 

If you have plants growing outside in containers, be sure to wrap the pot with an insulating material to help keep the roots warm. The container plant may be cold hardy in our area, however , it may not be able to withstand the colder winter temperatures because its roots are not protected by the ground.