Garden Tasks for February
By Alyce Goldman and Cathrine St.Clair
If you have a desire to get outside gardening, here are a few tasks to consider tackling this month. But keep in mind, soggy, wet soils compact very easily. Avoid walking or driving on wet soil whenever possible.
Freeze and thaw cycles can lift newly planted or shallow rooted plants out of the soil, exposing the roots to drying wind. Check for any plants that may have heaved out of the soil and gently tamp back down.
If you have bird baths, try to keep fresh and unfrozen water in them for not only birds but other animals that need a drink.
Walk through your garden and get fresh air and inspiration for the new gardening season. Take note of shrubs or trees that have extended interest, a perennial that worked well last year, a shrub or tree that got damaged by deer or storms. Use the notes to help with planning for spring.
It’s hard to resist the desire to start garden clean up on those mild days that pop up here or there, but try not to disturb the gardens too much yet (except for maybe pulling out some of the evil Hairy Bittercress). There are valuable critters sleeping in the debris and they need days consistently above 50 F to wake up for the season. Keep an eye on ornamental grasses though and try to cut back the dried tops before too much new growth begins. Put the grass cuttings in the compost or cut into smaller pieces for your resident birds when they start nest building this spring.
Prune to remove dead, damaged or diseased wood on trees and shrubs. You can prune evergreens and ornamental shrubs and trees for shape, making sure not to prune plants that bloom on last year’s growth (like Azaleas, Lilac, Forsythia, and many Hydrangeas, among others). This will remove blooms - so these plants are better pruned after flowering. Here is some guidance from Penn State Extension on pruning flowering shrubs.
Now is the time to dormant prune fruit trees. You can also apply dormant oil, following label instructions.
Use downed branches to start or add to a brush pile for the critters that share your property. These are great in far corners away from view and help with habitat. For information on brush piles click here.
Near the end of the month, you can trim back old leaves on Hellebores. This allows more moisture to reach the base of the plant, neatens up the appearance, and allows the flowers to shine.
When the weather allows, refurbish outdoor metal trellis, plant stands, furniture, etc. by applying a coat of oil-based paint (painting with a brush is ideal). This will extend the life of the metal and refresh the look.
For some inside tasks...
It’s time to start some of your seeds indoors! But not all – take a look at cold tolerant plants or those that are slow germinators or slow growers. Some cold tolerant vegetables like onions, scallions, leeks, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, spinach and peas can be started during February and placed in the garden before the last frost date. Some vegetables (like peppers - especially hot peppers) need to be started now to be decent size for planting out well after frost. Some flowering plants (especially perennials) can be started now as well. The best source of information is the seed packet. It will tell you how far in advance to start seeds. It can be hard to curb enthusiasm – but don’t start plants too early. It can result in weak and spindly transplants.
Give your houseplants and overwintering tender plants some attention. Dust the leaves so photosynthesis is not hindered and check for any critters hanging out. Evaluate whether the plants will need potting up this spring. If the plant is top heavy or if it is difficult to keep watered properly, a bigger pot may be the answer.
Now is the time to wash all those gardening gloves and be ready for greatness next year. Hand or machine wash on a low setting but do not put in the dryer. You can also clean and sharpen garden tools.