February is a time for a lot of gardening jobs. It is a time to prepare garden beds, plan spring plantings and even start seedlings in the greenhouse! But it is also a time for taking care of your existing garden. It is a time to deadhead flowers and remove old growth in your perennial garden beds. It is a time to rake garden debris and leaves and take them to the compost pile!
What Job Do Flowers Do?
Flowers have a number of jobs, but they are most often used to attract pollinators such as bees and birds. They also help plants by providing nutrients in the form of pollen. The seeds of many plants are borne inside the fruit or berry of the flower.
In some plants, the flowers are staminate (the flowers have only stamens and no carpels), and in other plants, the flowers are carpellate (the flowers have both stamens and carpels). Staminate flowers produce pollen, while carpellate flowers produce seeds.
Winter crocuses, snowdrops, and daffodils are all good candidates for planting in the month of February. They are the first of the spring flowers to bloom, and they are a wonderful sight on dreary winter days.
It’s a good idea to cut back the stalks of ornamental grasses before the spring growth emerges because they may block new shoots from appearing in the ground. This is a simple way to encourage new growth and keep your garden looking tidy and neat.
Planting in February is a good time to start seeds for cool-season vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets as well as annual flowers. You can also direct sow okra and sweet potatoes indoors to make sure they have a good head start on the summer harvest.
If you’ve been storing bulbs or corms indoors, it’s time to check them to see whether they are rotting or drying out. They need to be kept moist or acclimatized to the air to get them ready for a new life outside in the garden.
Depending on your region, it is time to fertilize trees, shrubs, and emerging bulbs. Apply Holly Tone or Plant Tone, depending on the type of plants you have (acid-loving plants will receive Holly Tone, neutral ones will receive Plant Tone).
Prepping Your Garden Beds
It is a good idea to clean out your garden beds before you start preparing them for planting. It is a great idea to rake the beds out and take all of the leaves, spent foliage, and debris right to the compost pile.
You can also begin putting together your garden planning chart for the year ahead and begin deciding what plants to add or remove. You can also plan and sketch out your garden designs, and use your dream boards to figure out where you want your new plants and seedlings to go.
Garden Chores for February
It’s a good time to check fruit trees, roses, and bushes for any frost damage. You can also spray dormant fruit tree sprays and aphid and snail sprays to prevent infestations.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://diygardeningtips.com/beginners-gardening/how-to-grow-cucumber-at-home/