January Tasks

There  are several things to do while the yard is gray and the wind is chilly, besides making lots of bean soup and cornbread. Cleaning and assessing tools, ordering seeds, collecting containers for spring seedlings (I'm using toilet paper rolls instead of peat pots to start my plants. They'll be in cut-open orange juice cartons instead of plastic flats), testing soil if you need to do so, and adding amendments if your soil isn't frozen are all good. I would have that soil professionally tested the first time, especially in an urban area. Was that large, empty building down the street a paint factory, or a bakery, or both over time? Ask around. Get your soil tested if your inquiries reveal anything to be concerned about, especially if you have children. I tested ours for lead because of the large, painted garage, but we're safe. The presence of a heavily-traveled road nearby would also be cause for concern about lead from the days of leaded gasoline.

The soil test can also reveal any nutritional deficiencies of the soil, which make your plants more susceptible to disease and bugs. You may need a special fertilizer (like seaweed emulsion or a special, low phosphorus formulation), and it's good to know.