By AMANDA ZAMBRANO
Master Gardener Intern

WARSAW — Many gardeners I know are anxiously checking their mailboxes right about now. The 2016 seed catalogs are on their way, and may already be in hand. I don’t wait as anxiously for my seed catalogs, but I do eagerly anticipate my nursery catalogs. By January, it does me good to see things flowering and green and growing.

These catalogs always inspire me to start garden planning, and it’s a good task to do this time of year when inclement weather keeps you out of the garden. I start my garden planning, particularly for my vegetable garden, by reviewing last year’s garden journal.

I start by noting what went well and what didn’t. Last year my vegetable garden didn’t do well. I suspect I try to put too much in my small plot and I know I didn’t apply enough fertilizer throughout the summer. Better pruning techniques last year mean my flowers, however, seem to be doing well.

I’ve got some things that need removed, including the stump of an old ornamental tree and some spent irises. I have some junipers that I need to watch; if they don’t revive this year they’ll need to be torn out.

I had a broadleaf problem last summer and I’m making a note to treat it early this year, as broadleaves respond best to a pre-emergent herbicide rather than trying to treat them after they’re flourishing. I also realized I didn’t put enough mulch down last year and I need to prioritize putting in plenty fresh mulch this year to keep other weeds down.

Lavender bush

Next comes my favorite part — adding new things. This can include new or altered beds, additional vegetable plots, or container gardens along with new annuals and perennials. This is where those beautiful nursery catalogs and seed books come in. They are full of old-fashioned favorites as well as new cultivars.

This year I’m hoping to add lavender bushes as well as more boxwood. I’m looking for some companion plants for my miniature lilac to replace my spent irises, so I’ll be scanning my catalogs for just the right thing. I’m still debating what to do with my vegetable garden this year and will be looking through the seed catalogs for some shade tolerant options.

Most catalogs are now available online, but if you’re like me and enjoy marking pages, cutting out favorites or creating a notebook, many catalogs can be requested for free or for a small shipping fee. My two favorites are White Flower Farms and Seeds of Change, but there are countless wonderful options for finding your new favorite plants and seeds.

Miniature white lilac

Amanda Zambrano is the director of advancement at Grace Village Retirement Community. She is a master gardener intern, just learning the ins and outs of successful gardening.

Along with her master gardener volunteering, Amanda serves on the board of directors for the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, the Symphony of the Lakes committee and a Kosciusko County Community Foundation scholarship committee. She plays flute for the Symphony of the Lakes and enjoys hand-quilting, baking and reading. She is also an occasional blogger. Amanda lives in Warsaw with her husband Dan and her son Alexander.