There is plenty to do in the Southwest yard in January – but only if you want to. You can also kick back and relax.
Water = Pay Attention to Irrigation
As I write this, our winter so far has been mostly warm and relatively dry for much of our region. And here we come to why it is so hard to write for the Southwest region.
If you live in the Low Desert – (Eastern California into Yuma, Phoenix), be sure to irrigate your landscape at least once per month during this dry winter we are having. Especially if you have planted Spring Wildflowers!
Middle Desert of Northern Arizona or Nevada?
The Mohave Desert native plants are actively growing right now because their genes tell them that winter is the wet time. You need to irrigate at least every other week for any Mojave natives (like Joshua trees).
Middle and High Desert of Southern Arizona?
You are in the Sonoran Desert, and you should irrigate any wildflowers, densely planted spaces, and fruit trees. In general though if you have a Sonoran Desert landscape, you can irrigate once a month.
Middle Desert New Mexico folks
Chihuahuan Desert natives are used to cool dry winters so you can save on your water bill too. Unless you live in one of those weird pockets that had a dry summer. Then everything needs a soak once a month.
Basic January Chores
January is the ideal month to get your yard set up for the year ahead. Here are some of the basic tasks.
Plant seasonal color – meaning annuals like pansies or whatever nurseries have in their outdoor areas.
More about Colorful Winter Annuals
E-guide about winter annuals – on my classes site (small fee).
Harvest ripe citrus as you need it. If you have to tug – it ain’t ripe.
More about citrus.
Fertilize your winter rye lawn once monthly. If your lawn is Bermudagrass, let it be in January, but know that the chore of aeration is coming up in February.
In Case of Frost
Check weather forecast for freeze warnings.
Cover the tips of sensitive columnar cacti with styrofoam cups, especially totem pole, young saguaro, and organ pipe cactus.
Use frost cloth or a blanket to cover aloes, citrus, and other sensitive plants when temperatures drop below 28°F. Do not use tarps or plastic sheets. In a pinch you can use a bed sheet, but they are not ideal.
REMOVE the coverings during the day time!
General Tidy Things to Do
Catch and remove winter weeds as they germinate.
More about Weeding in the Southwest
Rake up fallen leaves. Add to compost or bury in unused beds for slow decay. Exception – if your roses or fruits like apples or peaches had disease – then those leaves need to be discarded in trash.
Pruning? Fertilizing? More?
I don’t want to say the same things as I did in previous posts (because I can get accused of plagiarism in the rigid and unchangable minds of the AI bots), so may I suggest you check out my previous “January Calendar” post. January 2023
Finally for January
Do take a few moments to simply enjoy the season! Depending on where you live in the Southwest – it is cool, maybe even cold and snowy outdoors! All too soon it will be hot again, so enjoy the season!
If you have a fire pit – take some time to enjoy it! More on fire features.
Need Southwest Vegetable Garden Help?
May I recommend my book? The Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Guide offers not just growing guides but some of the latest varieties – including ones specifically for raised bed and container growing. Price is what you would pay on Amazon – only when you buy from me you get a signed copy!
From the review:
“In this updated 2nd edition of Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, you’ll find much-needed advice and practical tips on growing an edible garden, no matter which part of the southwestern US you call home.
Profits from the sale of this book go to the Arizona-based Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.
Legal Notice
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Yes, a little fire to sit around would be nice. Rather than propane, we like wood, but are wondering what to do about the ash. I understand that it is alkaline, and thus should not be added to our already alkaline soils.
So what can I do with it?!
Can you do a post on that?
Thank you for the question. I shall have to work on that one.