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February Gardening Calendar Water
evergreens if the soil is dry and unfrozen. Inspect
summer bulbs in storage to be sure none are drying out. Discard any
that show signs of rot. Enjoy
the fragrant blooms of the Ozark Witch Hazel flowering in shrub
borders or wooded areas on warm sunny days. Winter
aconite (Eranthis sp.) and snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are hardy
bulbs for shady gardens that frequently push up through snow to bloom
now. Take
geranium cuttings now. Keep the foliage dry to avoid leaf and stem Weeks
2-4: Sow
seeds of larkspur, sweet peas, Shirley poppies and snapdragons where
they are to grow outdoors now. To bloom best, these plants must
sprout and begin growth well before warm weather arrives. Weeks
2-3 Seeds
of slow-growing annuals like ageratum, verbena, petunias,
geraniums, coleus, impatiens and salvia may be started indoors now. Vegetables Don’t
work garden soils if they are wet. Squeeze a handful of soil. It should
form a ball that will crumble easily. If it is sticky, allow the soil to
dry further before tilling or spading. Run
a germination test on seeds stored from previous years to see if they
will still sprout. Start
onion seeds indoors now. Season
extending devices such as cold frames, hot beds, cloches and floating
row covers will allow for an early start to the growing season. Weeks
3-4 If
soil conditions allow, take a chance sowing peas, lettuce, spinach and
radish. If the weather obliges, you will be rewarded with extra early
harvests. Fruits Check
fruit trees for tent caterpillar egg masses These are laid on twigs in
tight clusters that resemble an oblong brown lump of gum wrapped around
the stem. Prune off these twigs or destroy the eggs by scratching off
the clusters with your thumbnail. Inspect
fruit trees for tent caterpillar egg masses. Eggs appear as dark brown
or gray collars that encircle small twigs. Destroy by pruning or scratching
off with your thumbnail. Weeks
1-2 Collect
scion wood now for grafting of fruit trees later in spring. Wrap bundled
scions with plastic and store them in the refrigerator. Miscellaneous To
extend the vase life of cut flowers you should: 1.
- Recut stems underwater with a sharp knife. 2.
- Remove any stem foliage that would be underwater. 3.
- Use a commercial flower preservative. 4-
Display flowers in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight. When
sowing seeds indoors, be sure to use sterile soil mediums to prevent
diseases. As soon as seeds sprout, provide ample light to encourage
stocky growth. Repot
any root-bound house plants now before vigorous growth occurs. Choose
a new container that is only 1 or 2 inches larger in diameter than the
old pot. To
avoid injury to lawns, keep foot traffic to a minimum when soils are wet
or frozen. |