Time to start getting ready for spring! Be prepared by doing these garden chores in February.
Lawns:
* Think Spring! This is the month for the spring application of slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.
* If you have bare spots that did not recover from the drought, late February or early March would be a good time to put down grass seed.
Ornamentals:
* Overgrown summer-blooming shrubs can be pruned in late February or March. These might include abelia, beautyberry, butterfly bush, rose of sharon and crape myrtle.
* You can also cut back overgrown evergreens such as boxwood, holly and rhododendron (although you will not have blooms this year).
* Do you still have dead perennials that have not been cleaned up—coneflowers, black eyed Susans, sedums, grasses? Also cut back liriope and mondo grass now.
Fruits:
* Mature apple and pear trees can be pruned, but do not prune young fruit trees, peaches or plums before March.
* The Extension office has videos available for loan on pruning grape vines, brambles, blueberries and fruit trees.
* All fruit crops can be planted now through spring.
Vegetables:
* This would be an excellent time to dig an asparagus bed. Asparagus crowns can be purchased through mail order sources or some local garden centers.
* Don’t let the calendar deter you from planting some vegetables. English and edible-pod peas, spinach, kale, onions and a few other cold hardy crops can be planted in late February through March.
Other:
* It is too soon to start transplants for the warm season vegetables, but you can start plants for cabbage, broccoli, etc. or get your seed starting supplies ready to go for next month.
* Bluebirds and some other song birds will be scouting for nesting sites this month. Clean out old bird houses and put up new ones.
* Help cure spring fever on a pleasant winter day by cleaning out the garden storage area. Clean tools and sharpen pruners.
For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.
(Image provided by Wikipedia.)
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