Gardening Tips > February

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General Gardening Tips

• Heathers, witchazels and winterhazels bloom this month. Visit the garden center to see them in bloom and consider if there is room in your landscape for these interesting winter bloomers.
• Continue feeding birds in your garden. Natural food sources are very scarce at this time of year. Beaver Bark Gift & Garden Center has an extensive selection of birdseed, houses, feeders and other supplies to choose from. Water is also important for birds, so if you have a birdbath in your garden, be sure to use a de-icer to prevent the water from freezing.
• February is an ideal time to prune fruit trees.
• Late February / March is also the time to spray fruit trees, roses and other trees and shrubs with a dormant spray. Dormant spray should only be applied if the temperature is above freezing. Dormant sprays are recommended if your plants had a problem the previous year. Examples include hemlock woolly adelgid, pine bark adelgid, eyounomous scale, spruce mites and other pests. Since some dormant sprays are for insects (Dormant Oil) and others are for diseases (Lime Sulfur), and still others combine the two, we recommend that you speak with one of our plant specialists about the appropriate control for your particular plants.
• Brush or sweep heavy snow off evergreens to prevent breakage.
• Apply an anti-desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf to azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies and other broad-leafed evergreens when the temperature is above 45 degrees F. These evergreens have more surface area of leaf tissue, which can lose moisture from the drying effects of the cold wind.
• January and February is the time to prune shade trees if necessary.
• You can plant and transplant perennials in February.
• Protect your landscape from hungry deer. Our plant specialists can help you with wildlife control strategies.
• If you have containers that are not being used throughout the winter, be sure to turn them over to keep them from collecting water that could freeze and crack the container.
• On icy sidewalks and driveways, use a good quality ice-melting product such as Mag (magnesium chloride). Do not use salt or rock salt for they may damage the concrete or the shrubs.
• If you feel it is necessary, you can take soil samples of your garden area and test it for pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash levels.

Lawns

• To keep your lawn looking its best, it is important to maintain the proper pH level. Now would be a great time to pick up a soil test kit at the garden center and test the pH level of your lawn. If you need to raise the pH level of the soil, February is an ideal time to lime the lawn. Lawns prefer a pH range of 6.2 - 6.8. If your tests show a level lower than 6.0, you should lime your lawn. Apply 50 lb. of lime per 1,000 square feet of lawn area. This will raise the pH ½ point. If you need to apply more lime, wait six weeks between applications.
• You can also apply fertilizer and grass seed to your lawn in February. The seed will lie on the ground until the soil temperature is warm enough for it to germinate. The late winter / early spring rains will help work the seed into the soil and provide the necessary moisture to help germination.

Starting Seeds Indoors

• Beaver Bark is fully stocked with flower and vegetable seeds, many of which can be started indoors this month.
• You can start your flower seeds indoors now for Ageratum, Asters, Calendula, Companula, Candytuft, Carnations, Centurea, Chrysanthemums, Coleus, Coreopsis, Dahlia, Gerbena, Geraniums, Impatiens, Pansies, Petunia, Salvia, and Snapdragon.
• You can start your vegetable seeds indoors now for Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Onions and Spinach in mid to late February.
• Pick up our bulletins on Flower Seed Starting Facts and Starting Seeds Indoors.

House Plants

• Time to start feeding houseplants again in later February with a good quality indoor plant food such as Jack's Classic (water-soluble powder) or Osmocote (slow-release granular).
• Time to re-pot root bound houseplants to a larger pot. Beaver Bark stocks a full line of containers, including terra cotta, wood, concrete, ceramic and plastic. Use Beaver Bark Potting Mix when repotting houseplants.
• Time to decorate your home with blooming plants like Primrose, Gardenias, Daffodils, Tulips, Amaryllis, Cyclamen, Winter Daphne and more. Visit Beaver Bark Gift & Garden Center for an excellent selection.
• Check the leaves of your houseplants for insect problems like scale, mites and mealy bugs. If you detect a problem, bring in a representative sample and one of our plant specialists will diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate control. We have several ready-to-use spray products or systemic granules, which are ideal for indoor use.
• Check houseplants that have leaves that are turning yellow and brown. Lower leaves that curl up and fall off may be too warm, too dry, or the plant may not be getting enough water. If you are uncertain, call or visit Beaver Bark Gift & Garden Center with a sample.

Additional Information

February Reminders:

• Don't forget your special Valentine with beautiful flowers and plants from Beaver Bark Gift & Garden Center.
• Spring is right around the corner. February is a great time to make an appointment with one of our landscape designers to make plans for a beautiful spring landscape.