February 2023 Gardening Tips

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Bulbs and Tubers- Anemones and Ranunculus are sold as 4 inch plants now. Subscribe to The Gardening Tutor Newsletter to learn more about the care of Ranunculus.  For the best selection, Buy spring planted, summer flowering bulbs, such as Begonia, Canna, Crocosmia, Dicentra spectabilis, Gladiolus, and Liatrus, now.  Choose bulbs that are heavy for their size and free of blemishes. If you're looking for a specific color or flower type buy dahlias now. If you want a large dahlia as soon as you plant it, buy Dahlia as a plant later in the year. You can also plant more than one tuber of Dahlia in one hole to get a bigger plant in its first year.

Perennials-Hellebores, Pulmonaria angustifolia, Aquilegia (Columbine), Dianthus (carnation), Veronica 'Georgia Blue'.

Shrubs-Ribes, Arctostaphylos, Daphne, Pieris, Sarcococca, Camellia.

Veggies- Artichoke, Onion sets, Carrot seeds, Radish seeds, Potato tubers.

• Seeds-February is the time to start many flower and vegetable seeds indoors (greenhouse ideally) for planting out once our frost season has passed (mid to late April here in Zone 9). Read more about starting seeds when you subscribe to our newsletter this month.
• Pruning-Many shrubs and perennial plants are pruned in February to encourage good form and flowering. These include: Buddleja (Butterfly Bush), Berberis, Fuchsias, Erigeron, Nepeta, Veronica, Lemon Verbena and more. If your plants, such as Teucrium fruticans are pushing growth early, prune them now even though it is early to do so. Remember, spring flowering shrubs are not pruned now because you'll be pruning off flower buds that formed in the last year. Wait to Prune early flowering shrubs, such as Lilac, Forsythia, Flowering quince, Camellias, and Rhododendrons just after they finish flowering. When you're ready to learn which plants to prune and how hard to prune them contact Mary for an appointment. Continue to deadhead winter color annuals, such as Iceland Poppies, Pansies, Bellis perennis, and Calendula.
• Pest Management-Continue to manage snails, slugs, earwigs, and cutworms with bait or hand picking (toss into a bucket of hot soapy water). Dormant spray plants such as roses before new growth starts to push to avoid damaging the new growth. Spray Peaches and Nectarines one last time before bud break. Also spray the soil under the plants to manage the overwintering pest insects and fungus. Gophers and moles have their place in nature but in the garden...not so much. Watch The Gardening Tutor Video How to Set Gopher and Mole Traps 
• Scale insects can be a real problem and nearly impossible to manage with any sprays. Scrape off mature scale insects when possible and toss into hot, soapy water. There is more to know about scale, contact Mary when you're ready to learn more. 
• Tools- Clean tools and lightly oil wooden handles- Keeping gardening tools clean  helps them last longer.  Clean tools before putting away. Before shopping for new tools this year, Watch The Gardening Tutor Tool Video: Overview for Buying and Using Gardening Tools.

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