February Horticulture Hints

Pruning

Deciduous fruit trees, grapes, and evergreen shrubs can be pruned now. In general, prune to remove dead branches, crossing stems, and to head back or reduce height. Renew evergreen broadleaf shrubs that have outgrown their space or generally look ratty by pruning drastically. Shrubs such as holly, azalea, camellia, glossy abelia, Japanese cleyera, and ligustrum can be cut to within six to twelve inches of the ground before growth begins. When new shoots emerge, pinch out the tips to encourage branching and a strong framework. Thin out some of the new shoots to make space. Do not try such procedures on needled evergreens, for they will not recover.         

Prune any summer- or fall-blooming hardy shrubs if needed. These include butterfly bush, crape myrtle, glossy abelia, oleander, plumbago, Texas sage, and others. Butterfly bush, beautyberry and others that bloom on new wood can be cut nearly to the ground and expected to recover. Since flowers are produced on new wood, pruning at this time will not diminish the amount of flowers. Prune citrus trees this month, also.

Crape myrtle branches may need thinning and possibly a little heading back to remove old seed heads. Resist the temptation to top crape myrtles or prune them back drastically because this will destroy the natural shape of the tree and will often result in weak top growth that will break under the weight of summer rains or windstorms.

Do not prune shrubs or trees that bloom in spring such as azaleas, saucer magnolias, gardenia, hydrangea, and dogwood unless they have dead branches. Of course, dead branches should be removed, and any suckers can be removed from the bases of the plants. Also, remove branches as needed to prevent them from rubbing together. Wait until next month to cut back tropicals that have suffered winter damage. Pruning them may stimulate new growth, and that is not a good thing with additional frosts likely.

Other Tasks

Fertilize established trees and shrubs late this month or in early March. Since feeder roots of most trees and shrubs are in the top few inches of soil, they will benefit from fertilizer broadcast on top of the ground and watered in well.

Do not fertilize the lawn at this time, however. If weeds were a problem in last year’s lawn, an herbicide can be applied that will inhibit their growth this summer. As always, follow directions exactly and avoid applying herbicides in the root zone of desirable plants.

Prepare beds for vegetables and flowers by adding organic matter and fertilizer. Dig in some peat moss, cow manure, mushroom compost, or other organic matter. In six weeks or so your new beds will be ready to plant.

Apply dormant oil to help control scale insects on ornamentals and fruit trees. Check especially on camellia, holly, gardenia, euonymus, banana shrub, and any other shrubs that are likely to be infested with scale. Dormant sprays kill a variety of overwintering insects and their eggs.

Water the garden well if a freeze is expected. Maintain a two to three-inch layer of mulch over the root systems of trees, shrubs, and perennials to maintain moisture and moderate soil temperatures.

What to Plant

Bulbs to plant include gladiolus, agapanthus, amaryllis, crinum, freesia, hyacinth, and gloriosa. Outside in the garden, seeds of achillea, alyssum, begonia, bachelor’s button, calendula, California, Iceland, and Shirley poppies, coneflower, dianthus, geranium, gaillardia, gypsophila, larkspur, lobelia, lunaria, nasturtium, petunia, annual phlox, statice, stock, sweet alyssum, verbena, and viola can be planted. Inside, or in a protected place in bright light, start seeds of flowering annuals such as celosia, zinnia, morning glories, and marigolds.

Most deciduous fruit trees and vines are best planted between January and mid February, so don’t wait too long if you intend to plant some fruit trees this year. Trees and shrubs can be planted or transplanted while they are not actively growing. This will lessen the shock to the plants and still give them a bit of time to become established before summer.

February is a good month to plant roses as well as to prune existing plants. Try some of the old garden roses. They are time-tested and generally more resistant to insects and diseases than some of the modern hybrids. Consider favorites such as ‘Archduke Charles’, ‘Old Blush’, ‘Mutabilis’, ‘Mrs. B. R. Cant’, and Mrs. Dudley Cross’. Also highly recommended is the recently introduced ‘Knock Out’ rose. Shrub roses should be pruned back to a few strong canes about knee-high. Prune climbing roses after flowering.

In the vegetable garden, consider planting beets, broccoli, carrot, English peas, greens, lettuce, onion sets, potato, and radish. Most greens can be harvested this month if they were planted earlier.

Blooming in February

In bloom this month are some of our most beautiful shrubs and trees. Look for camellias, loropetalum, deciduous magnolias, forsythias, Japanese magnolias, Chinese mahonia, flowering quinces, sweet olive, Taiwan cherries, and spireas. Look in the woods as well as in gardens for native plants such as redbuds, plums, crabapples, swamp maples, and Carolina jessamine.

Cool-season annuals still provide color. Flowering kale and cabbage, nemesia, pansy, petunia, snapdragon, and sweet William are still going strong. Flowers of bulbs such as leucojum, hyacinth, tulip, and narcissus brighten the winter landscape.

Just for Fun

If you simply cannot wait for Mother Nature, try forcing some branches of spring-blooming plants. Select branches with many flower buds and place them in a deep container of water. Keep them in a dimly lit, cool location, and change the water each day during the forcing period. Spray the buds a couple of times each day with water to keep them from drying. When the buds begin to show color, they can be displayed in a vase and moved to a bright room. Some plants to try are serviceberry, red maple, birch, hickory, redbud, Japanese quince, flowering cherries, dogwood, forsythia, witch hazel, beautybush, honeysuckle, apple or crabapple, mock orange, pear, willow, spiraea, and wisteria.