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| February Yard, Garden & Plant Tips
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Shrubs and trees
1. From middle to late February fertilize evergreen shrubs and trees. Use acidic fertilizer for conifers, azaleas, rhododendrons & camellias and water thoroughly.
2. Deciduous trees & shrubs that don’t have swelled buds can still be moved.
3. Vigorously prune summer shrubs that bloom on new wood. This includes beautyberry, althea, abelia, hydrangea, gardenia, crepe myrtle, rose of Sharon, hibiscus and butterfly bush (Buddleia).
4. Lightly spread wood ashes around lilac bushes to promote more blooms
Perennials, annuals and bulbs
1. After Feb. 15 plant new roses or move old roses.
2. Root out exotics like English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle.
3. A butterfly garden should be planted where it is sheltered from wind, but a sunny spot for larval plants allows females to lay more eggs.
4. When choosing larval food plants check the range of the butterfly being attracted.
5. Good native larval plants are parsley, Queen Anne’s lace, marigolds, dogwood and tulip poplar.
6. Larval plants attract female butterflies, but many are weeds. Choose wisely.
7. Plant both perennials like butterfly weed and annuals like zinnias for butterflies.
8. Have nectar plants of various heights so smaller butterflies have plenty of species to choose from.
Fruits and vegetables
1. Check seed vitality by wrapping 10 seeds in a wet paper towel inside a baggie and see how many germinate.
2. Prepare your vegetable garden by adding well-rotted manure or compost.
3. Make a raised covered bed to grow spring lettuce, spinach and onions.
4. Plant asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish and onion sets. Sow lettuce seeds every 3 weeks to spread out the harvest.
5. Only work the soil when it is dry enough to crumble in your hand.
6. Start parsley from seed, it is a biennial and will produce seed during its second year.
7. Remove last year’s canes from raspberries and blackberries except for everbearers.
Odds and ends
1. Keep birdbaths clean and free of ice.
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