Lawn & Garden Tips for February!

Lawn & Garden Tips for February!

It doesn’t seem like it should be February already! Before you know it the temperatures will start to warm and hopefully more rain will be headed our way. But, as February rolls around so does the work that is necessary around our homes and gardens. Here are some general tips to help you maintain a great looking lawn and garden.

General

· Base any plant fertilization on a soil test. For directions, contact your county Extension Educator.

· Provide feed and unfrozen water for your feathered friends.

· Clean up birdhouses before spring tenants arrive during the middle of this month (Bluebirds).

· Avoid salting sidewalks for damage can occur to plant material. Use alternative commercial products, sand or kitty litter for traction.

Trees & Shrubs

· Fertilize trees, including fruit and nut trees and shrubs, annually.

· Most bare-rooted trees and shrubs should be planted in February or March.

· Finish pruning shade trees, summer flowering shrubs and hedges. Spring blooming shrubs such as forsythia may be pruned immediately after flowering. Do not top trees or prune just for the sake of pruning.

· Look for arborvitae aphids on many evergreen shrubs during the warmer days of early spring.

· Gall-producing insects on oaks, pecans, hackberries, etc. need to be sprayed prior to bud break of foliage.

· Dormant oil can still be applied to control mites, galls, overwintering aphids, etc.

Fruit & Nuts

· Spray peaches and nectarines with a fungicide for prevention of peach leaf curl before bud swell.

· Mid-February is a good time to begin pruning and fertilizing trees and small fruits. Remember Zinc fertilizer applications for pecans.

· Collect and store graftwood for grafting pecans later this spring.

· Begin planting blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, asparagus and other perennial garden crops later this month.

· Choose fruit varieties that have a proven track record for Arkansas.

Turf

· A product containing glyphosate (Roundup) plus a broadleaf herbicide can be used on dormant bermuda in January or February when temperatures are above 50°F for winter weed control, try to time applications when the soil is moist and there is no rain in sight for at least 8 hours, preferably 24 hours.

Vegetables

· Cool-season vegetable transplants can still be started for late spring garden planting.

· By February 15 many cool-season vegetables like cabbage, carrots, lettuce, peas and potatoes can be planted.

Flowers

· Force spring flowering branches like forsythia, quince, peach, apple, and weigela for early bloom indoors.

· Forced spring bulbs should begin to bloom indoors. Many need 10-12 weeks of cold, dark conditions prior to blooming.

· Feed tulips in early February.

· Wait to prune roses in March.

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