Monthly Checklist

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February

February is one of the best months to prune.  Evergreens, ornamental grasses, perennials and summer-blooming shrubs can all be pruned now.  The only plants you would want to avoid pruning would be spring-blooming shrubs.  Wait until they are finished flowering before you prune.  We have a Pruning Cheat Sheet you can take home for guidance, and we also offer several classes on the subject later in the month.

This is also the best month to prune fruit trees.  Remember, for most you will want a central leader with strong side branches having lots of space in between.  Remove any water sprouts (long, vigorous vertical branches), crossed branches and any weak or damaged growth.

Make sure you are keeping your bird feeders full of the things they like to eat.  Also, try to keep some water in your bird bath if it is not predicted to freeze, or consider getting a bird bath heater for when it does.

We often get some of our worst snows in February, and if it has fallen, it’s a good idea to gently sweep or shake the snow off of your evergreens.  If we have been unfortunate enough to suffer through an ice storm and branches are covered, it would be better to let the ice thaw and not try to remove it.  Otherwise you run the risk of broken branches.

This is a good month to apply dormant oil to your trees and shrubs.  This is a non-toxic method of preventing insect damage later in the spring.  The oil smothers any eggs that have been laid on the plants, keeping many of them from ever hatching.

Branches from spring blooming shrubs like forsythia and quince can be forced into bloom to brighten the house.  Just take good sized cuttings and place them in water.  Over the course of the next few days or weeks they will slowly open, giving you a peek of things to come.

Late in the month apply pre-emergent weed control to your lawn.  Many of the coming spring and summer’s worst weeds can be prevented now.

Don’t neglect your pansies.  They have tolerated the weather all winter long and may be ready for some food.  A few warm days will perk them up, and some fertilizer and a little deadheading will help them put on a new show of color.

Towards the end of the month, it would be a good idea to spend some time in the vegetable garden working in some organic matter like compost or manure.  Go ahead and pull out any persistent weeds or dead growth.  Get the garden tilled and ready for your early season cole crops.