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Gardening Tips for February

Tropical and Sub-Tropical Gardens

• Start the New Year on the right gardening foot; make a resolution to spend more time enjoying your garden and going green. You could be happier and healthier for it!
• Select the right tool for the job; it makes the work easier. As a general rule, use short-handled tools for small jobs and long-handled ones for large tasks.
• Care for your lawn. Even though the weather's cool, the turf throughout most of your region is still growing. Mowing is still required, though usually less frequently. Use sharp blades, and remove no more than 1/3 of the blade height when you cut.
• Plant a tree (or two) - now is a great time for installing new landscape material. Trees increase in value over time, as well as increase property value (not just for you, but for the whole neighborhood). What's more, they save energy and money by shading our houses in summer, and (if deciduous species are planted) allow the sun to shine through for warmth in the winter.
• Keep your thirsty plants watered - you've hit the typical dry season. Although most plants require less water due to cooler temperatures, supplemental irrigation is still usually required for some plants in the landscape. Normally, irrigation systems should be set to water the lawn once every week or two. It's better to turn automatic irrigation systems off and apply water only when turf wilts.
• Bring some winter color to your planting beds with some of these blooming annuals:
  • Sweet alyssum is a nice bedding or container plant because it forms tidy, spreading mounds and blooms continuously when cared for properly.
  • Geraniums are vigorous and easy to grow. They prefer full to partial sun and average to fertile soil that drains well.
  • Cardinal flower prefers partial shade and moist to wet fertile soil with lots of organic matter, making it ideal for use near ponds.
  • Petunias all have a similar form and come in a wide array of colors. The blooms are generally funnel-shaped.
  • Snapdragons are easy to grow and love the sun. Enjoy them in containers and mixed beds and borders. (Tall snapdragons make excellent, long-lasting cutflowers.)
• Plant prechilled daffodil and tulip bulbs in containers - and even your garden beds - for some blooming color come spring.
• Clean and maintain your garden tools. Keep blades sharp for easy operation and safety - this includes shovels and pruners. Paint tool handles with bright colors to make them easy to find in the garden or identify if they're ever borrowed by friends or neighbors.
• Be prepared to help your landscape survive a rare frost or freeze. (January is the most likely month for the occurrence of freezing temperatures in warm, supposedly frost-free, zones.) Have equipment (like dollies) on hand to move containerized plants to protected locations. Protect your trees and shrubs by keeping them well-mulched (this helps protect the roots), and build frames for covering and protecting your favorite tender plants.

• Plant a vegetable garden (Yes, there's still time!) Some of the best veggies and herbs for planting in January in sub-tropical and tropical gardens include beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, chives, collards, coriander, endive, fennel, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion sets, parsley, parsnip, peas, pepper, potatoes, radish, sage, spinach and turnips. Visit the Learn2Grow Plant Database to learn more about these delicious garden additions - and more.
• Irrigate turf only as needed. Before you turn on the water, look for wilted, silver-colored patches. Generally, most warm-season turf needs water every 10-14 days this time of year via rain or sprinkler.
• Take some time to enjoy the berries (remember, color in the landscape comes from fruit, too), as well as the birds attracted to them. Some "berry" special plants include beautyberry firebush and yaupon holly. None of these in your garden? Now is a good time to plant shrubs, too!
• Sow arugula seeds now. This bitter radish relative produces the most tender and mild leaves for salad greens when the weather is cool. Leaves should be ready for harvesting in 4 weeks or so. (Pick a few, then allow the plant to grow more.) Ancient traditions say that eating arugula is lucky - a good thing for the New Year!
• Come to The Garden Party and share your gardening adventures with other home gardeners in your region, as well as around the country. Post pictures of your garden, write a blog, or ask expert green thumbs for more help, tips or suggestions on how to enhance your outdoor living experience.