Monthly Gardening Tasks - February

With spring just around the corner many growers are thinking about converting seedling trees in their orchards to known varieties. If this is to be done, February is the ideal time to collect and store grafting wood to be put on in April or May.

In collecting grafting wood, make sure that only wood on one year’s growth is collected. This new growth should be cut in six to eight inch pieces and bundled into 20 to 30 sticks per bundle. Lay the bundle of wood on wet newspaper, cover with moist peat moss or old sawdust, and roll. Put this moist roll in double plastic bags and store in the crisper of the refrigerator until time for grafting.

PREPARE NOW TO FERTILIZE PECAN GROVES

Late February and the first of March are the ideal times to fertilize pecan trees. Remember that pecan trees make 90% of their terminal growth during the month of April, therefore, it is important that the fertilizer materials be applied now so that they are available when root growth starts and the first growth appears on the trees.

Fertilizer should be blended according to leaf analysis and soil test recommendations so that only the nutrients that are needed are given to the tree.

The pecan tree must have adequate nutrients for the first cycle of growth early in the season and it is best to apply fertilizer materials the latter part of February to the first part of March for optimum growth of pecan trees.

PRUNE YOUR ROSES

Do not prune your spring blooming climbers until after their first bloom.

Valentine's Day is the official day to prune your roses. Take off any dead wood. Cut the bush back 1/3 to encourage new blossoms this spring. Make sure the inside of the plant is cleaned out to discourage any disease growth when the plant begins to sprout.

DON'T LET THE NICE WEATHER GET YOU

It is hard for gardeners to stop themselves from planting their beds when the weather in February is beautiful. But don't, hold yourself back!!! The weather in February can still get cold, and there is still a chance of a freeze. Start preparing your beds for planting, make sure all your equipment is clean, sharp and in working order. When the chance of frost is over, then you will be ready to begin your planting.

Garden Checklist for February

By Dr. William C. Welch, Professor and Extension Horticulturist

---Don't fertilize newly set out trees or shrubs until after they have started to grow, and then only very lightly, the first year.

---When buying plants, the biggest is not always the best, especially with bare-rooted plants. The medium to small sized (4 to 6 feet) usually become established faster and will become effective in the landscape more quickly than the large sizes.

---Complete the bare-root planting of woody landscape plants his month. Container and ball-and-burlapped plants are in good supply and can be set out most any time. Winter and early spring planting provides an opportunity for good establishment before hot weather comes.

---Prune roses during February except in the Pan-handle and far North Texas, where roses are pruned in March or April. Use good shears that will make clean cuts. Remove dead, dying, and weak canes. Leave four to eight healthy canes and remove approximately one-half of the top growth along the height of the plant.

---Now is an excellent time to select and plant container-grown roses to fill in bare spots in your rose garden.

---Wait until after they finish flowering before pruning spring-flowering shrubs such as quince, azalea, forsythia and spiraea.

---When pruning shrubs, follow these steps: (1) prune out any dead or damaged branches first; (2) thin out by removing about one-third of the canes or stems at ground level, removing the oldest canes only; (3) shape the rest of the plant but do not cut everything back to the same height.

---Plant dahlia tubers in late February and early March.

---Plant gladiolus corms; space planting dates at two-week intervals to extend flowering season.

---Fertilize pansies once again for continued flowering. Don't forget to water when needed.

---A potted plant, tree, shrub, or cut flowers make excellent Valentine gifts for loved ones and shut-ins.