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On these cold mornings in January, the warm summer pursuits seem far away. It may not be the time the pool yet, but January is the perfect month for start gardening. With a little planning now and a small amount of monthly maintenance garden this summer can yield a nice variety of flowers and vegetables.

If gardening sounds like too much work, take a moment to consider the benefits:

Flower beds are aesthetically pleasing and increase curb appeal.
-A Small Garden can produce food to be enjoyed by all the family and reduce the grocery bill.
-Composting can help reduce amount of waste going to land fills and provide a fun family project.
-Gardening is a relaxing way and a little fresh air and less stress.

Top whereas the flowers, fruits and vegetables are the family favorites, and then do some research on the level of difficulty and feasibility climate. There are plenty of gardening resources available at your local library or the Internet. The site of Texas A & M AgriLife Extension has a wealth of information about gardening in Central Texas.

Prepare the soil by composting, which provides an economical and environmentally friendly fertilizer. According to the Agency Environmental Protection, yard trimmings and food waste together constitute 24 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. Composting is not complicated and with a couple of simple steps can easily be incorporated into a weekly routine. Choose a place in the yard away from the house to create a compost pile. Also, keep a box under the kitchen sink or next to the trash can to put in food scraps (excluding meat or dairy products). In a contained area tank linings yard and kitchen scraps, then move on once a week.

In January and February of plants of broccoli, lettuce, carrots, onions and asparagus in an area near the house that will get sun and be protected from the wind. It's a good idea to add composted soil and continue to fertilize after the seeds and bulbs were planted. Make sure beds to cover plants if temperatures fall below freezing.

Sowing seeds of annual flowers and vegetables can also be done in January and February. In small pots containing fertilized soil, plant seeds of marigolds, petunias, begonias and impatiens. There are a wide variety of tomatoes and peppers to delight any palate. Seedlings should be ready for transplanting when the plants have a third true leaf.

The Rose Bowl can be played in January, but February is the month to receive the roses in the garden ready. Container grown roses can be planted this month in well fertilized soil. Prune existing roses and transplant, removing dead branches and cutting nearly half growth from the top.

In March and April, green beans, cucumbers, corn, tomatoes and peppers can be planted directly into beds. Choose a pair flowers to be planted perennials that flower at different times of the year. Make sure you continue to fertilize the soil with compost. Containers can be planted in these spring months too. By the late spring and summer, keep beds fertilized monthly and weekly watered.

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Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Total Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Other Edible Plants the Natural Way $15.65 This book shows you how to have healthy soil and recommends environmentally safe products and even some homemade remedies to control pests and diseases in your garden. It describes more than 100 food plants and gives specific information on the growth habits, culture, harvest, and storage of each….

Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac (Month-by-Month Guide) $17.39 Think of Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac as a giant monthly calendar for the entire state–a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide for gardeners and “yardeners.” This book provides everything you need to know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns; vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and soil, mulch, water, pests, and plant care. It will help you to crea…