February Tips

February Tips

The weather may still be cold and dreary, but here's how to get your garden moving for spring.

Leaf Disposal and Tool Care -- Continue to clean up and fix up before plants really get growing. Rake leaves, pull obvious weeds, spruce up and sharpen hand tools, and power tools.

Remove mulch from perennials and, especially, bulbs once they show signs of new growth.
Cut back any perennials still standing as well as ornamental grasses. Be sure to leave any fresh green growth that might be starting at the base.

Planting Bare-Root Plants -- As long as the soil is well-thawed, plant bare-root trees and shrubs as well as bare-root roses.

Planting Trees and Shrubs -- In coastal areas, plant container-grown trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, ground covers, and perennial flowers. However, farther inland and at higher elevations, make sure that you don't plant them any sooner than a month or so before your region's last frost date.

When To Plant -- Wait to plant warm-season annual flowers and vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, basil, marigolds, petunias, and the like) until after your region's last frost date.

Houseplant Basics -- Houseplant growth this month continues to be slow, so don't fertilize and keep watering to a minimum.

If you didn't fertilize your lawn last month, do so now either with an organic or a chemical product. (You can also simply rake a 1/2-inch of compost over your lawn.) This is also the time to apply a crabgrass preventer, if you choose. Check out products that combine the two, saving application time.
If moss or fungal diseases are a problem in your lawn, consider applying moss control or fungal control lawn products, available at your garden center. These can be applied nearly any time during the growing season.

Pruning Roses -- If you haven't already, prune deciduous fruit trees and also prune roses. Spray both of them with horticultural oil to prevent insect problems later.

Pruning Trees and Shrubs -- Prune trees and prune shrubs. Be careful with flowering trees and shrubs -- you don't want to trim off developing buds. In fact, as a rule of thumb, prune flowering shrubs and trees within a month after they stop blooming. But do trim late-summer or fall-blooming trees and shrubs, including abelia, mimosa, cassia, oleander, crape myrtle, princess flower (also called tibouchina), golden rain tree and hibiscus.

Start Seeds Indoors -- Keep an eye on any seeds started indoors. They need gentle, constant moisture but not too much or they'll get damping-off. (Running a fan in the room helps.) Also give them as much light as possible. Keep grow lights just an inch or two above the plants.

Consider building a cold frame. You'll be able to plant radishes, spinach, lettuce and other cool-season crops in it this month and use it for fall planting as well.
Wait to do any painting on outdoor structures until the temperature has hit at least 60 degrees F. Otherwise, the paint won't last as well.