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Recognized in 2013 as the official botanical gardens of the state of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee Gardens located in Knoxville, Jackson and Crossville are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Some 4,000 annuals, perennials, herbs, tropical plants, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses are evaluated each year. Both the Knoxville and Jackson gardens are TN Certified Arboreta. The gardens are open during all seasons and are free to the public.

 

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  • January #1
    Once your poinsettias begin to languish, often it is best to add them to the compost pile
  • January #1
    In the event of wet snow, brush it off evergreens as it accumulates, or as soon as possible after the storm. Use a broom in an upward, sweeping motion. Serious damage can be caused by heavy wet snow.
  • January #2
    Don't forget to water your succulents! Just because they like it on the dry side, it doesn't mean they don't need water. The lack of humidity in your home during the winter months can dry them out more than you think. Depending on the pot size and the soil-to-plant ratio, I water mine every two to three weeks. I like to set them in the sink for the process. If they are really dry, you may need to water them twice because the first time you water them, the water may run through.
  • January #2
    Continue to keep the leaves off your lawn, especially on cool-season lawns, because they continue to photosynthesize during the winter. We have the tendency to let the seemingly ever-falling oak leaves build up during the cold days of winter. On a dry, warmish day, you can mow both cool- and warm-season lawns to help groom the lawn and mulch the leaves. Avoid heavy traffic on cool-season lawns when it is cold enough for the grass to be frozen. Frozen grass is easily broken and the crown can also be severely damaged.
  • January #3
    Keep a check on tropical plants like elephant ears, bananas, cannas, ginger, agaves, and Boston and Kimberly Queen ferns that you may have stored in an enclosed garage, basement or crawl space under the house. Carefully check them for water. They don't need to totally dry out, but they can easily be over-watered causing them to rot. Any rotting foliage should be removed to prevent further decay.
  • January #3
    Avoid using salt to melt snow and ice from your walks and driveway, as it can be harmful to your plants. Several environmentally friendly products are available at home improvement stores.
  • January #4
    For some added color and fragrance during the bleak days on January and February, check out your local garden center for leftover paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs that are likely to be on sale now. Look for bulbs that are firm and have not sprouted. To keep your paperwhites from flopping over, add alcohol to the water. For details on this unusual cultural technique, check out this website from Cornell: http://blogs.cornell.edu/hort/2009/11/10/pickling-your-paperwhites/

 View gardening tips for the entire year.

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