February 2021 Gardening Tips

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Read February's Essay on our BLOG: Pruning Roses

• Bareroot - Fruits Trees, Blueberries, Cane Fruit, Strawberries, Rhubarb.
• Bulbs in bloom - Ranunculus, Anemone.
• Early Blooming Trees- Flowering Magnolia, Lilac in bud.
• Fragrance - Violet odorata, Daphne, Sweet Peas.
• Veggies- Beets, Fava Beans, Carrots, Leek, Lettuce.

• Prune- Cannas to the ground, Berberis, Finish Pruning Roses,  
• Pest Management- Wild rabbits can be super destructive in the garden. Other than covering all your plants with mesh cages there's not much you can do to protect the plants rabbits want to devour or destroy. Here are a few plants that rabbits tend to leave alone: Geum, Buddleja, Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite', Berberis, Canna, Begonia, Trachelospermum, Helianthus, Rosemary, Dianthus, Alyssum, Acorus, Coleonema. Some plants, such as Phlomis fruticosa, may need protection with mesh while young but once big enough the rabbits may leave it alone. Spray fruit trees and roses before they push new growth with dormant oil or copper spray (follow package directions) Remember to spray the soil under and around the plants too. Bait for cutworms, snails, slugs, earwigs and sowbugs.
• Divide and or Transplant-  Cannas, Clump Forming Salvias,  
• Sow Seeds- February is time to sow vegetable and flower seeds indoors for planting out when danger of frost has past (approximately mid April in Sonoma County CA). Seeds of California Poppy, Flander's Poppy, Ornamental Poppy, Larkspur, Nigella and many others can still be scattered on top of soil outside. Keep the sown area clear of weeds and give them a shower if rains are infrequent.
• Spraying Roses- Be careful, if your roses have already started to sprout leaves, fungicides/insecticides can damage the young leaves. Best to use a strong spray of water to knock off aphids or use insecticidal soap spray. If your rose is diseased wait until the new leaves harden off (mature) to spray neem oil or other insecticides or fungicides.
• Irrigation- Before applying a new layer of mulch check and repair drip irrigation lines. Watch The Gardening Tutor YouTube Channel for drip irrigation tips.