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 Gardening
Tips for February
Just because the majority of perennials and trees are dormant this
month doesn't mean you need to ignore your garden. Dormancy actually
helps
with some of the opportunities for projects this month. Much can
be done to enhance your garden during the growing season if preparations
are
made now.
Now is the time when the underlying structure of the garden is most
apparent. Evaluate your garden for areas where architectural elements
such as arbors or trellises are needed. Deciduous shrubs and trees
should be inspected and pruned at this time. Dormant shrubs may
also be removed or transplanted if the ground is not frozen. Look
for winter color in the garden and ways to enhance it with different
colors and textures of evergreens.
New vegetable and flower beds can be dug and compost or peat moss
added to the soil in preparation for seeds and seedlings in spring.
Areas for new lawn can also be prepared. If you have any spring-flowering
bulbs that you didn't have time to plant in late fall, go ahead
and plant them now. They'll come up just fine when the weather turns
warm.
Check the summer flowering bulbs you lifted and stored in the fall
for excess moisture and mold.
Heavy labor projects can be accomplished now while the weather is
cooler. Large winter clean-up jobs requiring chain saws or chipper/shredders
should be undertaken before spring green-up. Look for winter damage
to trees caused by the weight of ice and snow. Broken branches with
uneven wounds should be sawn off cleanly to protect the tree from
disease and insect infestations later.
Don't neglect the compost pile! Keep adding kitchen scraps and fallen
leaves.
If the ground is not frozen, hardier plants like trees, shrubs and
vine fruits can be planted if container grown or burlapped.
Cut down ornamental grasses, before the wind strews the loose straw
all over the yard, or worse, the neighbor's yard.
Cut seed potatoes into pieces with at least two eyes each. Allow
them to air dry for a bit to seal the cut surfaces, and let the
eyes sprout before planting. Cold hardy vegetables can be planted
now if covered with a plastic translucent row cover.
February is a great time to fertilize your fruit trees before their
spring bloom.
Sharpen, clean and oil all of your hand tools so they'll be ready
for the busy planting season.
Force endive, chickory and rhubarb. Scrape old bark from grape vines
and tip prune summer fruiting black berries and raspberries.
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