FEBRUARY
"A February spring is not
worth a pin"—Sheryl London, author
Pruning February Foliage. February is the ideal
time to prune fruit and ornamental trees, since the lack of foliage makes the
structure much more visible. Make sure your pruners, loppers and saws are sharp
to obtain nice clean cuts.
Inspect Your Garden Tools. Before spring
planting, sharpen hoes and spades with a file. Check pruners and loppers for
chipped or nicked blades. Use a whetstone to sharpen these. Inspect wooden handles
for rough spots and splinters. Lightly sand the damaged areas and apply a light
coat of linseed oil.
The Chill of Winter. Inspect flowerbeds for
frost heaving. Place the plants back into the ground. Add mulch when the ground
refreezes.
Inspect Your Cold Frame For Damage. Replace any
broken glass or framing. Cold season crops such as cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli can be started in the cold frame this month. Be sure to
crack it open on warm, sunny days.
What's Up Doc? Watch young trees and shrubs for
rabbit (or rodent) damage. Make sure tree wraps and guards are high enough to
protect against animals standing on top of snow.
Happy Houseplants. Nurture acid-loving
houseplants such as gardenias or citrus; water once a month with a solution of
1-teaspoon vinegar in a quart of water. As the days get longer resume
fertilizing your houseplants. Begin using a 1/2 strength mixture and increase
bi-weekly until you reach full strength.
Dry Evergreens? To prevent your broad-leaved
evergreens and boxwoods from drying out, take advantage of a mild day (above 40
degrees F) to reapply an anti-desiccant spray.
Heard It Through the Grapevine. Prune your
grape vines. Grapes bear fruit on one-year-old canes. Old canes will not bear
again and need to be pruned out.
Trim Branches Back. Cut some forsythia or pussy
willow branches to bring indoors for forcing. Soak them in a tepid bath for one
to two hours and place in a vase for colorful blooms.
Think Before You Stroll. You may get the urge
on a nice sunny day to walk around on your lawn, or in your garden to check
things out, but you may actually cause harm by compacting the soil. Wait until
the ground dries out to do a through inspection
Order Up. Get your seed orders in while
supplies are plentiful. If you have room, order enough seeds to plant an extra
row or two; a local soup kitchen or charity will be thankful for the fruits of
your labor.