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February Gardening Tips

Plant

Plant azaleas and camellias. To extend the blooming season for azaleas, add Satsuki varieties to the garden. These Japanese treasures will bloom into May.
Now is a great time to plant trees. If you are looking for small size trees without aggressive root systems, messy fruit and pest resistance, consider: Japanese maple, Chinese pistache (male), crape myrtle, Tolleson's weeping juniper, peppermint tree and Canadian redbud.
Plant bulbs for spring and summer blooms: tuberous begonia, caladium, calla lily, canna, dahlia, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, tigridia and tuberose. In cooler areas, wait until March. Look for pre-chilled pips of lily-of-the-valley to enjoy indoors.
Start new fuchsia baskets and move holiday poinsettias outdoors after danger of frost has passed.

Feed & Fertilize

Feed ground covers, shrubs and flower beds with organic fertilizers. Top dress with worm castings and add a little soil optimizer to stimulate organic activity.
Fertilize citrus, avocado, berry and grape plants with an organic food. The organic nutrients will become available as the soil warms up.
An application of Epsom salts or Sul-Po-Mag will help with basal breaks on older rose plants.
Fertilize roses.

Prune/Trim/Clean

Deadhead faded flowers on annual color to keep them blooming.
Finish pruning roses.
Any branches that have been damaged by winter storms should be cleaned and pruned. Don't allow old leaves and debris to remain around deciduous trees and roses as they can be sources of pest problems.