The weather may still be cold (snow still lies on the ground in some parts of the world this month) February is still an active month for garden chores.
This is the ideal month for starting seeds indoors for vegetables, herbs, and flowers, plus it’s the right time of year to plant trees in your landscape.
Read through this article to discover what gardening work should be done in February, then, go play in the dirt!
Let’s enjoy Gardening!
Start Seeds
A bag of potting soil, a few recycled containers and a packet of seeds can get your garden started indoors in the month of February.
Poke holes in the bottom of recycled plastic container, like yogurt cups or cottage cheese containers, fill them with potting soil and plant 2 seeds, 1/2 deep in the soil. Moisten the soil and place containers in a warm location until seeds germinate. Keep the soil moist at all times and move containers to a sunny location after sprouts appear.
You can use seed trays and other types of seed starting equipment if you prefer, but recycling small containers (even toilet paper tubes work) keeps useful items out of the trash.
When plants develop their second set of leaves, transplant them into larger containers. Plant outdoors in prepared garden soil after all danger of frost has passed.
Starting seeds indoors gives you a head start on the summer garden season and usually results in healthier plants.
Plant Flowers Outdoors in February
By the last week in February, the soil in most climates has warmed up enough to plant many varieties of hardy perennials like pansies, chrysanthemums, Shasta daisies, and coneflowers. As soon as the soil thaws hardy biennials, perennials, flowering shrubs, and trees can be planted. Mulch the new plants to prevent heaving during any late freezes, and if a late frost occurs cover the new plants with a layer of newspaper the night before.
Feed the Trees
Fertilize all newly planted trees and shrubs with a balanced fertilizer of 15-15-15. Water trees and shrubs thoroughly after fertilizing.
February is the perfect month to prune and feed summer flowering trees like the crepe myrtle and chaste tree. A February pruning and feeding will force new spring growth in summer-blooming trees. Fertilize after pruning with an ascending number fertilizer, like 5-10-15. By feeding the trees in February, the food will seep down into the soil and be readily available for roots to utilize when the trees come out of their dormancy.
You may also be interested in reading the other post, “5 Flowers to Grow for Spring“.
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