What to do when - Jan-April in Willamette Valley

Often we look to our unwritten, unspoken schedule of "what to do when" to decide what can done outside.  Sometimes in the winter, I think we should prune the grapes, but that should be done the first two weeks of February.  We could cut some black locust for fence posts next fall but we don't have the trees marked yet.  We could plant some lettuce for early crop but it is still too cold without a cold frame.   Wait a minute, maybe I should write these 'lists' down and see if they make sense to anyone else.

So here are the first four  months and what work makes sense to us.

January - 

• Prune shrubs and pile prunings for burning in April
• Order native plants from County for February pickup
• Plant year old grapes that were started last February
  
• Renew any grape arbor stakes, wires, posts, hardware that need work
• Discourage any gopher activity with propane.  They have mated and are staying underground to raise their young
• Plan, plan, plan -  by drawing pictures, talking about ideas and most of all, walking the ground to see how everything did last growing season.  Made something easier to take care of for this coming growing season.  Look and think beyond the current landscape and plantings and buildings into the future for 5, 10, 20 and 50 years if not more.  Make big and little plans, short range and long range plans and keep notes of the good ideas

February - 

• Prune grapes and put grape cuttings into pots for next year's planting
• Finish pruning all fruit and nut trees and pile brush for burning after it dries out
• Plant perennials and trees
• Plant native plants in fencerows and on property 
• Plant first lettuce towards end of month
• Mow at least once if dry enough
• Use sulphur and propane on any gopher activity.  Better to do it now before the March gopher babies are born.  Watch for the deep soil "chimneys" that come up above their larders.

March - 

• Finish planting all trees - next month is too late.  
• Plant perennials and shrubs; water in the plants
• Weed like crazy and mulch beds right behind, prior to April flush of new growth
  
• Mow grass, taking off no more than an inch per mowing if possible
• Plant 2nd lettuce and begin planting other cool weather greens

April  -  

• Weed more to try to get ahead of the May rush of growth
• Burn fall and winter prunings under blue skies with white clouds going over - do not let pile sit over summer if possible
  
• Finish all perennial plantings and water in each plant as it is planted
• Plant more greens - lettuce goes into the ground every four weeks minimum through till October
• Mow grass during any dry spell as it will easily get tall now
• Test drip irrigation in the grapes and test sprinkler system.  Irrigation begins in May.

Next four months coming soon