To Do List for February

The idea of a To Do List came about last February from one of my loyal readers, Nina. At the time this blog was being published through an FTP website, that being the local newspaper. I thought providing a list of to do tasks for these local readers would be a good service. I have continued it despite the fact I no longer publish primarily for local folks because I find the lists helpful to me and perhaps to others within the same general area with the same growing conditions. Some chores will work for all zones, some won't.

Since the list will not normally change from year to year, I have decided to republish the To Do lists each month on the first. These lists are designed as a guide for all gardeners living in the same general area and Zone as I do; which is on the edge of Zone 6/7. I will add new chores in as appropriate when readers make suggestions. I will also adjust them as I see fit during the month in order to provide the most comprehensive list I possibly can. Most things I do in the garden I do by habit or based on observations of what I see in my garden. Depending on weather conditions the timing of certain chores may change. Generally speaking these are chores I do in my garden and I understand that not everyone will do the same things. Again, these are just guidelines, use them as you see fit.

1. Cut back perennials, ornamental grasses, and roses if you haven't already done so. Dispose of perennials in the compost bin, I don't put rose canes in the compost because it takes a long time for them to breakdown. They go to the dump.

2. Pull mulch back from emerging perennials and bulbs. Stomp down ground to make sure your perennials have good ground contact and the voles haven't damaged them too much.

3. Mow or weedwhack monkey grass. This step is not necessarily something you have to do, but for aesthetics it is nice to get the old grass out of your bed so when the new comes in the old doesn't detract from the new.

4. Start seeds. Label the seeds well as you plant. I can't tell you how many times I have not done this and had to guess at the plants. Last year I had to guess between Chinese-Forget-Me-Nots and salvia, fortunately I guessed right.

5. Order perennials and summer bulbs.

6. Finish pruning trees and shrubs-do NOT prune spring and early summer blooming shrubs such as: forsythia, deutzia, oak leaf hydrangeas, mopheads, ninebark, honeysuckle, mock orange, lilacs, quince, azaleas, rhododendrons, etc.

7. Cut back the hydrangea paniculatas if you have not already done so (they can get large and leggy without cutting back and bloom on new wood late in the season so cutting back will not hurt them). I cut back my Tardiva, Pink Diamond, and Grandiflora. I am waiting to see how Limelight grows before I decide if I want to cut it back.

8. Prepare the vegetable bed for planting and begin planting your cool season crops such as: peas, lettuce, onions, and potatoes. Make sure you have a plan for succession planting and for fitting in the summer crops. Plant these cool season crops at the end of February. Planting early does not give the crop a headstart. Be careful of fall crops you planted last year such as garlic.

9. Cut old hellebore foliage back if you haven't already done so. The plants should be blooming soon or already blooming.

10. Transplant and plant new shrubs or trees. Performing this task while the plants are dormant is the best time for the plant. The ground should not be frozen when planting and I allow about one week with rain before a freeze and after planting, or I do not plant. Also, if you plant an evergreen and it is in an area that receives a lot of wind, you may want to stake or tie it up so it does not topple over in the soft winter soil. This I have learned the hard way.

11. Label and mark early spring bloomers or make a map of the bed showing where they are located. Make note of empty spots and divide daffodils as you see fit. I divide mine each spring and it does not seem to hurt the bulb at all. Some say to wait until after bloom and that is fine too. Just don't divide while they are in full bloom or you may sacrifice the flower. Be sure to add some bulb booster or bone meal when you divide. Ashes in moderate quantities are also good additives to the soil for bulbs.

12. Cut back beautyberries and buddleia to about knee height. This can be done next month if not completed this month. I like to be an early bird with cutting back dead foliage and shrubs that need to be trimmed. It is a personal choice only.

13. Apply a good quality time released acid fertilizer to your camellias, hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons. I always do this prior to a good rain.

14. Add Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Care granular fertilizer to trees and shrubs that have been or are likely to be bothered by chewing insects. Some trees I treat are: birch (sawflies) and oak trees (oak galls). I also treat azaleas due to spider mites, lacebugs, and scale. I have seen a big improvement in the health of those treated trees and shrubs from last year.

15. I like to cut back all of last year's dead foliage. Plants to cut back now are: mums, shastas, brown eyes, coneflowers, eupatoriums, anemones, sedums, oregano, and gladioli.

16. Apply a pre-emergent/fertilizer treatment to your lawn. A general rule of thumb is when you see the forsythias bloom here it is a good time to treat your lawn. I prefer to skip this treatment and treat in early May instead. Most of the weeds in my lawn are of the summer growing variety and treating them now will not prevent their growth.

17. Keep bird feeders filled and water dishes clean.

in the garden....

I will not be responding to comments on this post. A bit different for me, but this post is more informational and doesn't need input from me. Probably most of my posts don't need input but I do so like talking with everyone on this blog and on theirs as well. Never fear, I will still talk with you on your blog or an individual basis here!

I will add and adjust this list according to how the month goes and also based on commenters' suggestions so that each year it will get better and better. Hope you understand and if you object to a comment you make this year being published next year, please don't comment. I like the history all of the comments provide me, but normally they are not republished so this might throw off quite a few commenters. If it does I am sorry and totally understand you not commenting on the To Do Lists, but I do not want to delete the old comments when I republish the To Do lists each month and it is silly to prepare a different To Do list each month when I have them already in the archives. I do hope you understand, I am going outside of the blogging box here now my fellow bloggers and commenters, but this makes the most sense to me and how I'd like to do it on the blog. Thanks. I will respond to any direct questions. And never fear, I do read and appreciate all comments.

I want to thank Karrita at My Mother's Garden. for the very lovely handmade soap/trinket dish pictured above. I simply love the blue color and fine detailing of it. The Jimster was quite impressed too and tried to figure out how the tree was made. It is just lovely, and thanks Karrita! It has a place of honor near my computer on my desk.

in the garden....again.