Timely Tips

What to Do in January 2026
Weekly Gardening Timely Tips from
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

Jan. 25 to Jan. 31

Perennials: Frost heaving can push newly planted and shallow-rooted plants out of the ground. Check plants and cover exposed roots with a light mulch now. Replant them as soon as the soil thaws. While you’re out there, check for spotted lanternfly egg masses on trees and many landscape surfaces. Use a stiff card to scrape them off of surfaces into a sealable bag, squish and discard in trash. Seehttps://westchester.cce.cornell.edu/horticulture-environment/invasive-nuisance-species/invasive-pests/spotted-lanternfly

Flowers: You can begin sowing pansy seeds indoors now. Pansies grow best in cool temperatures, optimally at 50°F to 55°F. While their seed may sprout in a week or two, the plants may take as much as 14 to 15 weeks to reach flowering size.

Fruits and Vegetables: Do you have more leftover vegetable seeds than you can use? Plan a seed swap with gardening friends.

If you are a beginner who always wanted to plant an orchard, be sure to do your research first. Tree fruit require a commitment, a lot of care, and may take years to produce a crop. If you are not ready for this, small fruit may not be as demanding, but they may need protection from animals, trellising or other specialized care. Know what’s required before you start. See the Cornell Guide to Growing Fruit at Home: https://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/60165302-b299-433a-952d-9ac82cc63849/content

Do you have more leftover vegetable seeds than you can use? Plan a seed swap with gardening friends.

Trees and Shrubs: Consider planting early flowering trees and shrubs to add beauty to the landscape and provide an uplifting scene during the dark days of winter. Ozark witch hazel, with hazel hybrids and the related buttercup winter hazel bloom in late winter on warmer days and into early spring. Our native spicebush (Lindera) has yellow blossoms in early spring. These shrubs do well in moist areas. Other early flowering woody plants include Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas), winter daphne, heaths and heathers (in well drained locations).

Lawns:If you didn’t get around to sharpening the mower blade or getting the mower tuned up before the end of the season, beat the spring rush and do it now.

Houseplants: Continue to inspect any houseplants for insects. Isolate infested plants in a separate room away from “clean” plants to prevent spreading an infestation. If there are only a few pests in exposed locations, remove them by hand. Keep the plant in isolation for at least a month or until you’re sure the pests are gone (it’s a good idea to do this with newly acquired plants too). If pests keep recurring, contact your local Cooperative Extension for advice. Heavily infested plants are often best discarded.

Learn about connection between people and plants in the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester 2026 Home Garden Lecture Series: The People-Plant Connection.

Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 10 to 11 am, remote on Zoom, $5. All lectures are remote on Zoom. The whole series is $45; a ticket to any single remote lecture is $5 and the tour is $20 (while there is space).

Speaker: Gilda Forseter is a Westchester CCE Master Gardener Volunteer. She pursued her interest in horticulture after retiring from teaching. She holds certificates from the New York Botanical Garden in Horticultural Therapy and in Gardening. Judy Enjoys sharing her horticultural knowledge with others as a Master Gardener Volunteer. Check out the brochure at https://www.canva.com/design/DAG37gykNic/RGq-kIdH95APY6-bKoGQYw/view?utm_content=DAG37gykNic&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hcc45ab7c29 For more information, please call CCE at 914-285-4640, 914-285-4620 or email westchester@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester horticulture program may be reached at 914-285-4640 or westchester@cornell.edu See our web page at https://westchester.cce.cornell.edu/

Last updated January 25, 2026