You just have to love February, the month when daffodils shine and the pink flowerIng plums billow. There could be a warm, sunny afternoon for fine gardening or a hailstorm afternoon arriving just in time to beat up the shining daffodils while flowering plum blossoms scatter about like lost snowflakes. Whatever February brings to our gardens, here are a few chores to consider this month:
GET WITH THE COLOR: Local nurseries begin stocking shelves with bright, colorful potted plants this month. Just a couple pots of early spring flowers are sure to chase away the blues of winter. Primulas, pansies, violas, cineraria and cyclamen all tolerate the good and bad weather February weather offers up. Check out your local nursery for some cheerful color.
SLUG IT OUT: There is nothing more frustrating than to have a bright stand of daffodils you planted five months ago shredded by greedy slugs and snails. Now is the time to set out organic slug bait every three weeks or so. When it comes time to set out spring bedding plants the slug population will be decimated.
CHECK THE GARLIC: By now, fall planted garlic cloves should be peeking up a few inches above soil level. Now is the time to give a top dressing of all purpose fertilizer, or a liquid drench of nutritious seaweed based fertilizer, this month and next. Pull up any weeds and mulch with rice straw.
SOW SEEDS: When it comes to starting seeds this time of year it pays to be a bit patient and wait. The soil might be too cold and wet by the time the seedlings are ready for planting. Best to wait until the middle or end of this month for indoor seed sowing. If you are planning to start your tomatoes and peppers from seed, the end of February is a good time to sow indoors for transplanting out in May.
FRUIT TREES and MORE: Bare root fruit trees and berries are now available at local nurseries this month. You will also find young transplants of broccoli, kale, spinach, Asian greens, onions, snap peas and more. Fresh vegetable seeds have arrived.
PRUNE: This is the month to dormant spray and prune roses, berries and fruit trees. Feed blueberries with a high nitrogen acid type fertilizer after pruning.
Terry Kramer is the retired site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-834-2661 or terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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