Even though gardening outdoors this time of year isn’t really an option, experts suggest taking a walk around the yard and doing a little pruning.

By Robin Ruehlen
C & G Staff Writer

Although ice and snow will keep garden enthusiasts indoors for at least several more months, it shouldn’t make  green thumbs go idle.

Growing herbs, cultivating windowsill gardens, pruning trees and shrubs, and checking out the latest seed catalogues are all ways to beat the winter blahs when you’d rather be digging in the dirt.

Janie Saltarelli, manager of Auburn Oaks Nursery in Rochester Hills, said the winter months tend to make gardeners antsy for the smell of fresh soil and foliage.

“Starting a herb garden can be a good project, using a good seed-starter topsoil. Cilantro, parsley and spinach are easy to grow, and work if you have a cool window space,” she said.

Herbs should receive about four hours of direct sunlight per day, with no direct drafts or sharp changes in temperature. Perennial herbs, such as sage, rosemary and oregano, tend to be easiest to maintain indoors.  For those that want to branch out from the norm, there are also indoor strawberry gardens, herbal tea kits and mushroom patches.

Saltarelli said her nursery and garden center is closed for January and February, but reopens around mid-March. The most enthusiastic gardeners start outdoors as soon as the ground thaws, as early as mid-April.

“Spinach, carrots and lettuce are among the first things you can put in the ground, along with garlic and onions,” she said.

“Cold weather is also a good chance to take a walk around the yard and do some pruning — your shade and fruit trees, flowering crabapples and oaks. It’s a good idea to make sure you aren’t having problems with deer or rabbits eating your shrubs before spring.”

According to the National Gardening Association, 21 million households gardened in containers in 2007, spending $928 million on container gardening supplies and plants.

NGA senior horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi said in a statement that growing fresh vegetables and colorful flowers is on the rise.

“You can grow in containers almost anywhere. Whole gardens can be created on rooftops, in alleyways, on decks and patios, or on windowsills using containers,” Nardozzi said.

“Some gardeners even grow trees and shrubs successfully in pots.”

The Philadelphia-based Burpee Co., which has provided seeds and plants to gardeners since 1876, is already advertising its latest items in vegetables, flowers, herbs and supplies for 2010, among them: the Tomato Tye-Dye Hybrid, the Fresh Salsa Garden collection, Dahlia Potluck, Lettuce Flying Sauce Series and Petunia Shock Wave Denim Hybrid.

 Cindy Roback of Young’s Garden Mart in Warren said her seed catalogs are just starting to come in for those who want to get a jump-start on planning their gardens.

“Towards the end of January, we do get a few enthusiasts who want to pick out their seeds and materials for the best selection, but we won’t have greenhouse items for another few weeks or so,” she said.

You can reach Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rrruehlen@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1105.