February

Gardening Tasks Reminder

Begin fertilizer program for houseplants. Fertilize Spring-flowering bulbs. Use a high Phosphorus Fertilizer. (The middle number). Fertilize cool season grasses. A Master Gardener will be happy to talk to you concerning Turf Maintenance. Call 746-3701 or send a postage paid self stamped envelope and we will be happy to send you a maintenance schedule.

February through March is a good time to fertilize trees and shrubs. Feed Crape Myrtle now. (Resist pruning until leaf break) When the crocus bloom, feed iris. A 5-10-10 or 6-24-24 ratio is recommended. Spread fertilizer around rhizomes, but not on them. Water in.

W ater:

If nature watered your driveway and sidewalks which turned to ice, use sand, wood ashes, kitty litter, or ice melt products. Salt is deadly to turf, plants and trees. If it hasn’t rained for a week or 10 days, water. Even dormant grass will benefit. Don’t forget the plants under the eaves.

M ulch:

Continue inspecting plants for soil heaving. Keep mulch in place until soil begins to warm next month. Continue spading gardens when soil conditions permit. Cover with a thin layer of mulch.

P rune:

Prune grapes. Refer to OSU Fact Sheet 6246, “Growing Grapes in the Home Garden." Prune fruit trees. Refer to OSU Fact Sheet “Annual Pruning of Fruit Trees.” Prune Maple, Birch, Elm and Willow at the coldest part of the season. These trees will “bleed” less. If you need help on pruning techniques, refer to OSU Fact Sheet 6409 “Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs." Prune spring flowering shrubs such as Forsythia and Spirea only after they bloom.

Wait until after bloom to prune Hydrangea. These plants bloom on old wood. If you have staked a small tree in a pruning/training effort, loosen the wires or ties and inspect for rubbing or tightness. Loosen as required. Plant

P lant:

If you missed planting your trees and shrubs in the Fall, now is a good time to put in new trees. Refer to OSU publication, “How to Plant Trees in Clay Soil." (The hole needs to be wider than deep.) By mid-February, cool season vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, lettuce, peas and potatoes can be planted. Refer to OSU chart “Garden Planting Guides for Cool Season Vegetables."

Plant blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, asparagus and other perennial garden crops later this month. If you didn’t do it last fall, plant pansies. Look on the seed package for transplanting time. Count back from April 15th to find the indoor planting time. Bare rooted roses can be planted as soon as received. Seeds that need cold weather to germinate (snapdragons, calendula, coreopsis, strawflowers, cornflowers, larkspur and California poppies) should be planted around the third week in February. Take cuttings from plants that have been wintered indoors.

P ests:

Dormant oil is a very effective deterrent for spider mites, scale and the eggs of other insects. Spray according to directions on a calm day when the temperatures are above 40 degrees but not within 24 hours of a hard freeze. Thorough coverage is necessary for good results. Do not spray dormant oil after bud break. Do not spray needled evergreens with dormant oil.

This is the month to spray peaches and nectarines with lime-sulfur or other fungicides to control peach leaf curl.

Begin plant gall control on oak, pecan, hackberry, etc. Refer to OSU Fact Sheet 7306 for tips concerning galls. Call the MG office for specifics on what chemical to spray. Glyphosate (Round-up, Kleen Up) may be sprayed on dormant Bermuda grass to control weeds. Apply pre-emergence weed control on Fescue if needed. Give your houseplants a gentle shower with lukewarm water to deter spider mites.

T ips:

If you haven’t had a soil test within the past 5 years, now is a good time. Build a raised bed on warm days. Refer to OSU Fact Sheet 6033 “Raised Bed Gardening".
"Want to extend the gardening season?" Cold Frames are easy to build. It may be possible to have fresh lettuce well into winter, and early in spring.
Begin spring garden cleanup. Take care not to disturb new plantlets when removing dead tops on perennials.
Time to begin removing winter weeds.
Use tree wrap on new trees to prevent sun scald. Wrap from the ground up to the lowest branches. Check previously wrapped trees to confirm wrapping is not constricting growth.
Bring in a few branches of Forsythia or other spring blooming shrubs. Crush the bottom of the branch to facilitate water usage. Place in a warm, sunny spot for a preview of spring.
Master Gardeners are ready to answer your horticulture questions. Call 746-3701 at the Extension Center 9 to 4, Monday thru Friday. Master Gardeners also answer the phone at the Garden Center 9 to 12, Monday thru Friday.

Contact the Master Gardeners at the Tulsa County Extension for more information.

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Date Modified:Sunday, 25-Oct-2009 12:12:52 EDT

Friday, 03-Sep-2010 14:31:06 GMT