Gardening Tasks and Projects for February

What to do in the garden in February.
What to do in the Garden this Month
Winter is far from being over, but we're now at that point in the season where we can no longer put off those garden projects while waiting for a nice day...

Provide protection for early flowering or tender plants by covering them with a protective cloth material if a cold spell is in the forecast.


Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs
Plants that may have been pushed out of the ground by frost should be pressed firmly back into place. You can plant Daylillies, Bleeding Hearts, and Hostas this month. Deciduous vines should be pruned for shape. Perennials can be divided and moved up until they begin to show new growth.

stored summer flowering bulbs may try to start growing if they are subjected to heat; they should be kept very dry and stored at 45[deg

F. If they are shriveling try placing them into slightly damp peat moss, but keep them cool! If you plan to grow slow growing plants from scratch, the seeds should be started indoors later in the month.


Fruit and Vegetable Gardening
Rhubarb, Horseradish, Asparagus, and Artichokes can be planted this month. Kiwi's and Grapes must be pruned by Valentines Day to prevent sap "bleeding". Strawberries can be planted as soon as they become available.

Summer bearing Raspberries and Blackberries should have all the canes that produced fruit last year removed. Remove any trunks from Currants that are over 3 years old. You should till your vegetable garden this month too; if weather and wetness permits, allow the weather to aid you in breaking up dirt clods.

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Shrub and Tree Care
Trees and deciduous shrubs are still dormant enough to transplant this month; once their buds begin to swell it'll be too late. Small shrubs transplant easily, but moving large size plants will take a considerable amount of effort.

Trees that weren't fed in the fall should be deep fed by creating several 1-2 inch holes two feet apart around their drip line and fill with an appropriate food. Providing a mulch of a well composted manure will be excellent for your tree.

Mid to late February is a good time to fertilize shrubs and evergreens. Use an acid type rhododendron fertilizer to feed evergreens, conifers, thododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. Use an all-purpose fertilizer to feed roses and other deciduous trees and shrubs. If you use a granular fertilizer be sure to water it thoroughly.

Prune your summer flowering shrubs now, but be aware that spring bloomers have already produced their buds last fall; pruning them now will result in the loss of flowers. Early spring flowering shrubs should be pruned a little later in the season, after they have finished flowering. Pruning should be done to improve the shape of the plant as well as open up the center for proper air circulation and sun exposure.

Always start your pruning by removing all dead, decayed, and broken branches. Methods of pruning roses can vary depending on the type of ruse. Climbing roses should be thinned out to get rid of previous tangled growth.


Odds and Ends
Your house plants may notice the longer days ahead and begin growing; you can begin feeding them now but only use a half strength solution of your house plant fertilizer until there is substantial growth.

Continue feeding birds and other critters; you'll want them to stick around when the weather warms to help control insects in your garden.Don't wait too much longer to get your gardening tools ready!
Posted on May 8th, 2014

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