HELLO FEBRUARY, GOODBYE JANUARY – ONLY ONE MONTH FROM SPRING!!
I am getting excited for spring. As of this writing, spring is only 48 days away. Our daylight is getting longer. February is the last whole month of winter. For some of us gardeners, we view February as the GATEWAY MONTH towards spring.
Sure, we are still in winter and will have some cold, wintry days and maybe some more snow days. But, on the lovely days, plenty of outdoor chores must be done this month. And these lovely days allow us to escape from being cooped up in our house and get outside and enjoy our gardens, fresh air, and sunshine.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW THOUGHTS AND TIPS FOR FEBRUARY
- GET YOUR SOIL TESTED: I can’t stress enough the value of a soil test and the valuable information that it provides us about the soil. We have some soil test kits available from Virginia Tech that are free. Just follow the simple instructions and mail it off. You should have the results in about three weeks. Get one for either your landscape, gardens, or lawn.
- If you have had problems with crabgrass, you want to apply a crabgrass pre-emergent toward the end of February. Remember, crabgrass is an annual weed, meaning the plant from last year is dead. But, before dying, it dropped seed for this year’s weed. One product that I would like to recommend is the ESPOMA ORGANIC WEED PREVENTER WITH CORN GLUTEN. This product will keep crabgrass and other listed lawn weed seeds from germinating. It works by keeping sprouted weeds from generating any root system.
- Houseplants may notice the longer days and brighter sunlight and begin growing. You can now start feeding them again.
- February is a key pruning month. Knock Out roses, monkey grass, crape myrtle, butterfly bush, and many other deciduous plants can be cut back now – IF THEY NEED IT.
- Don’t stop feeding the birds. Insects are not out yet. Birds are dependent on us to provide food for them in February.
- Don’t forget to pinch back and feed your winter pansies. By doing so, you will encourage branching and more bud formation, leading to more beautiful flowers as we get closer to March.
- Dormant oil spray, such as Bonide’s ALL SEASON HORTICULTURAL OIL, can now be applied to fruit trees and assorted deciduous shrubs. This product will coat and suffocate any insect living in all the crevasses and cracks of the bark. This Bonide product is very safe and organic to apply on any nice, warm day in February.
On warm, sunny days in February, let’s be sure to get outside, walk around, and enjoy being outside with nature. Things are beginning to change. Spring bulbs are starting to pop through the ground. Birds are being more active. It is a fun time to be into gardening! LET’S MAKE 2025 A HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!