The Almanac
Average temperature: High 74, Low 51
Rainfall: 2.35 inches
1. Moon phases
First quarter: Feb. 5
Full moon: Feb. 12
Last quarter: Feb. 20
New moon: Feb. 27
2. Moon sign planting dates
Above-ground crops: 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 27, 28
Below-ground crops: 13, 14, 18, 19, 23, 24
Control weeds: 6, 7, 25, 26
Prune trees and shrubs: 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22
What to plant
3. Vegetables: Plant through mid-month; beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, peas, potatoes, radishes, Swiss chard and turnips. After mid-month plant; beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, luffa, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes and watermelon.
4. Flowers: Alyssum, aster, baby’s breath, bacopa, begonia, candytuft, carnation, calendula, coneflower, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia, delphinium, dianthus, diascia, dichondra, dusty miller, false heather, four o’clock, gaillardia, gaura, gazania, geranium, gerbera, Johnny-jump-up, lobelia, million bells, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, rose, salvia, snapdragon, Stokes aster, sweet pea, veronica and yarrow.
5. Herbs: Anise, basil, borage, chives, dill, fennel, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, tarragon, and thyme.
6. Bulbs:African iris, amaryllis, Amazon lily, Asiatic lily, blackberry lily, blood lily, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, day lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Louisiana iris, society garlic, spider lily, rain lily.
Lawn care
7. Winter weather has slowed the growth of most lawns: mow to control height and weeds.
8. Brown patch a disease is causes yellow areas in many lawns; apply a fungicide as needed.
9. Severe cold could be very damaging to lawns; most should regrow.
10. Cool-season weeds are prevalent in many lawns; if needed spot treat with herbicides.
11. Remove declining warm-season weeds and add new sod or plugs.
12. Crabgrass may regrow early this year; if needed apply a preventer by midmonth.
13. Seeding of ryegrass for a temporary lawn is over; most permanent lawns should recover soon.
14. Tan to brown blades can be left or raked from lawns as growth begins.
15. Mow zoysia lawns to the desired height of 2 to 2½ inches before spring growth begins.
16. First-of-the-year feedings of many lawns can begin at the end of the month or early March.
17. Delay feedings of centipede and zoysia lawns until they regreen for spring in April.
18. Weed & feeds can be substituted for fertilizer only applications.
19. Water lawns when the soil begins to dry usually once a week or less.
20. Inspect irrigation systems; check for clogged or broken sprinkler heads and adjust as needed.
21. Sod or plug new lawns; begin seeding after mid month.
22. Till new lawn sites 4- to 6-inches deep and level the soil before planting.
23. Take time to have a soil acidity test made and readjust the soil pH if needed.
24. Aeration can help lawns with compacted soils, nematodes or hard-to-wet soils.
25. Service lawn care equipment before spring arrives.
Fruit and vegetable gardening
26. Many fruit trees are blooming; complete normal pruning early this month.
27. Cool -season vegetables can be planted through early February.
28. Remove declining crops to prepare for new plantings.
29. Improve sandy and old garden sites with organic matter before starting new plantings.
30. During warmish weather only four weeks are needed to produce transplants from seed.
31. Groom and harvest herbs to keep them producing; dry and store extras.
32. Warm-season vegetables planted in late February are likely to need cold protection.
33. Support vining crops by tying the vines to a stake or trellis.
34. Plant additional fruiting trees, shrubs and vines.
35. Consider the pest problems before adding new citrus and avocado plantings.
36. Check with your University of Florida Extension office for new and better fruit varieties.
37. Learn how to thin peach and nectarine trees to obtain the best production.
38. Complete the harvest of midseason citrus fruits.
39. Plant container gardens to enjoy vegetables and herbs on porches and patios.
40. Pine bark fines can be used to help adjust the soil acidity for blueberry plantings.
41. Check vegetables for aphids and caterpillars; control as needed.
42. Feed all fruit producing trees, shrubs and vines in late February.
43. Begin spray programs after apple and peach trees flower.
44. Use fallen leaves to form pathways, create mulch or make compost.
In the landscape
45. Remove weeds and till beds for future plantings.
46. Expect plants to begin early growth if the warm weather arrives in February.
47. A freeze now could cause major damage; keep covers handy and your fingers crossed.
48. Prune all but late winter and spring bloomers as needed.
49. Reshape overgrown and out of bounds plantings including hedges.
50. Only remove seed heads, small stems and suckers from crape myrtles.
51. Prune ornamental grasses to within a foot or two of the ground.
52. Remove declining fronds and fruiting stalks from palms; leave the good green foliage.
53. Give all but climbing roses a first-of-the-year pruning around mid month.
54. Trim back out-of-bounds perennials; remove old flower heads and seed pods.
55. Look for Florida bulbs to plant at garden centers to obtain the best selection.
56. Move poinsettias to the landscape on warm days and apply a slow-release fertilizer.
57. Begin landscape tree, shrub and flower feedings if needed for growth and foliage color.
58. Feed container gardens every other week or use a slow-release fertilizer.
59. Start seeds of warm-season annuals and long-lasting perennials.
60. Add a majority of hardy drought-tolerant plants to the landscape.
61. Maintain a mulch around trees starting a foot from the trunks; six inches from shrubs.
62. Prepare new flower beds; add organic matter to sandy soil.
63. Replant declining container gardens.
64. Plant bare-root and container-grown trees, shrubs and vines.
65. Begin every-other-week feedings of orchids by month’s end or apply a slow-release fertilizer.
66. Start compost piles from leaves and yard debris plus thin layers of soil and a little fertilizer.
67. Divide and transplant perennials.
68. Clean lily ponds to prepare for spring growth.
69. Prepare bird houses for spring nesting.
70. Clean and repair hardscape features including benches, bird baths and statuary.
Foliage and house plant care
71. Use late winter sales to add new foliage plants to the home and office.
72. Make sure new plant are set in the proper light level.
73. Check previous plant additions for mites and insects.
74 Wash off plant pests with a soapy solution or spray with an insecticidal soap as instructed.
75. Groom indoor foliage to remove old leaves, faded flowers and declining portions.
76. Give Christmas and holiday cactus a bright spot in the home; water when they start to dry.
77. Remove faded flowers and stalks from forced amaryllis bulbs; add the bulbs to the garden.
78. Trim indoor topiaries and tree like plants to control size and shape.
79. Move refrigerated bulbs to warm sunny spots to begin growth.
80. Feed all container plantings.
Tom MacCubbin is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com.
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