February

These suggestions for your garden are intended for central Texas.  However, if you are not in central Texas these suggestions may still be helpful but may need to be done earlier or later in the season depending on your location.

 

February is a good month to prepare for the coming growing season and do some early planting of trees and hardy shrubs. Fruit trees, nut trees, and shade trees should be planted now. These trees tend to start growing feeder roots before they grow leaves. So plant them early so they can get these new roots established. Hardy shrubs like holly, nandina, Indian hawthorn, photina, and wax myrtle are very tolerant of cold and can be planted now. This is also an excellent time to do any transplanting of shrubs and trees that need to be moved in the yard. Applying a root stimulator to new trees and shrubs will get them established much faster.

 

In the garden the cool season plants like lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, asparagus and strawberries need to be planted early so the can produce before the heat comes. Many people like to start their tomatoes and pepper indoors at this time so they can get an early start.

 

In your perennial garden now is the time to divide and trim back these back, removing the frozen stubble.  Trimming trees and shrubs if not already done needs to be done. February is an ideal month to trim because if you trim too early the plants tend to want to leaf out too early and then get nipped by a late frost. Valentine's Day is a good reminder it is time to trim the roses back. Most hybrid tea roses should be cut back to 18" -24".  To get the best selection and varieties of roses now is the time to get your roses in.  Fruit and shade trees may need to be shaped, removing any dead branches, sucker shoots, and erratic growth. Generally, topping a tree is not recommended.

 

This is also the time to apply a pre-emergent to your lawn.  Corn Gluton is nearly the only organic pre-emergent available.  It has a fertilizer value of 9% Nitrogen and the weed control lasts about 6 weeks.  Conventional pre-emergent herbicides like Amaze, Barricade, and Dimension will last about 3-4 months.

 

Mark S. Ney   

Certified Texas Nursery Professional #4749