����
• (Northern and cooler Central areas) Start tuberous begonias indoors late this month for
���� summer-long flowering outside.
���� • Start perennials from seed.
���� • Divide and replant summer- and fall-flowering perennials as new growth emerges, these
���� include asters, chrysanthemums, coneflower, liriope and daylilies.
���� • (Plants) Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chard, collards, green
���� onions, Irish potatoes, lettuce, mustard greens, and turnips.
���� • (Seeds) Add tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cauliflower and
Brussels sprouts to
���� coldframes or Early Grow Mini Greenhouse.
���� • Dormant asparagus crowns without any green shoots in bed
enriched with organic matter
���� such as compost, manure or shredded leaves.
���� • Potatoes in middle of February.
���� • Strawberries.
���� • Bare-root roses.
���� • Now is a good time to repot, especially those with roots showing through the drainage
���� hole.
���� • Dormant trees and shrubs.
���� • Graft camellias in Central and South Alabama.
���� • Plan a spot for plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds !!!
FERTILIZE
���� • Fruit trees, FL Fruit, Citrus & Pecan Food.
���� • Apply half of the fertilizer recommended for grapes now; apply the other half soon after fruit
���� sets.
���� • With bone meal (or super-phosphate if you have squirrels).
���� • Houseplants with liquid of soluble fertilizer according to manufacturer’s directions when
��� signs of growth appears.
���� • Feed indoor-grown annual transplants with a water-soluble fertilizer such as Peters
��� 20-20-20 at half strength every other week.
���� • Spring bulbs whose shoots have emerged with a complete fertilizer, 10-10-10.
���� • Seedlings in soilless mixture when the first true leaves appear. Feed every other watering.
���� • Till and fertilize the garden plot.
PRUNE
���� • Shade and ornamental trees lightly to remove dead, diseased, and crossing limbs.�
���� • Prune or mow winter-damaged foliage from
liriope, ophiopogon, honeysuckle, and
���� jasmine; English ivy and other ground covers should be hand pruned if needed.
���� • Shorter ornamental grasses to 4-6 inches and pampas grass from 6-12 inches. Wear
���� gloves and tie the top part of the pampas grass for easier removal.
���� • Divide crowded perennials like daylilies, daisies, etc
���� • If overwintered coleus have become leggy and gangly-looking, clip off the ends to take
���� cuttings, and root them to produce short, stocky plants for planting in the spring.
���� • Hanging baskets of philodendrons, piggyback plants or pothos may have leaves clustered
���� at the ends of their stems. Cut them all the way back to the rim of the pot. During the new
���� growth they will trail back of the sides of the pot. Use the trimmings to root new plants.
���� • Take cuttings from indoor overwintered geraniums to root.
���� • Remove dead and non-productive plants and shrubs.
���� • Good time to severely prune evergreens.
���� • Existing roses before new growth appears (around Valentine’s Day is usually
���� recommended). Make sure to use sealant to prevent boring pest.
���� • Hybrid tea roses in South Alabama; delay pruning for a few weeks in North Alabama.
���� • Peach and plum trees, crepe myrtle, and all other trees and shrubs that need shaping
���� and/or pruning before new growth appears.
���� • �Wait to prune azaleas till after blooming ��
���� • �Wait to lightly prune and shape crepe myrtles for more blooms till around
Valentine�s
���� Day��
���� • �Wait to prune wisteria till after blooming (June or July)�
WATER
���� • Winter annuals and dry soil areas as needed.�
���� • If a freeze is forecast. Well-watered roots are less susceptible to freeze damage.
���� • Lightly water forced bulbs to keep potting mix moist.
���� • Houseplants more frequently now and watch for onset of new growth.
���� • Newly set roses at planting, keeping the soil moist but not excessively wet.
PEST CONTROL
���� • Use horticulture or dormant oil as needed for insects and scale on trees such as: oaks,
���� hollies, camellias, euonymus, pecan and fruit trees.
���� • Spray for fire blight on Bradford pears, pears and apples, FL Fire Blight Spray.
���� • Horticulture or dormant oil on roses as needed.
���� • Watch for aphids, scale insects and mites on forced bulbs and houseplants, insecticidal
���� soap.
���� • Treat bulbs that were removed from a fungus infected bed before replanting in new bed or
���� treated bed (if not too badly infected).
���� • Spray all shrubs with a fungicide before new growth starts.
���� • Watch for damping-off, HY
Captan.
���� • Watch for grass fungus. (Brown patch, take-off, etc.)�
���� • Pre-treat for early season weeds: Spread pre-emergent herbicides,
Balan, HY Crabgrass
���� Control.
���� • Control any winter annual weeds such as
bittercress, common chickweed and henbit by
���� handpulling. Suppress them with a shallow layer of mulch.
ODD JOBS
���� • Start or use a gardening journal to help plan the color and landscaping of your garden. It is
���� easier to erase than to move plant.
���� • Good time to organize your work area and supplies in preparation for work later in the
���� month and following months.
���� • Prepare flowerbeds for summer annuals.
���� • When soil can be worked, turn under last fall’s cover crops. Never work wet soil — this
���� causes hard, compacted and unproductive soil.
���� • Solarize (process of covering with plastic in order to smother existing weeds) beds that
���� are freshly tilled.
���� • Add compost and top-dressing mulch to all unhealthy soil areas.�
���� • Turn the compost pile regularly.
���� • Change oil in mower and sharpen blades for cleaner cut. (Improves health of grass.)
���� •
Calibrate your spreader to insure proper disbursement.
���� • Continue to cleanup any remaining leaves, frozen plants, debris, etc. (including those in
���� the water garden). |
