February, 2024: Things to do in the garden

By Gary Crispell, NC State Extension ^SMMaster Gardener volunteer of Durham County

Welcome to February. This being a leap year AND an El Nino year we have 29 opportunities for more drenching rain (or snow?). Who knows? At deadline, my rain gauge indicates 7.5 inches of liquid precipitation so far with yet another chance before the 31^st. Could be worse. My relatives in Houston have had over 9”. I’ve been haranguing the Deity for a week of no rain so we gardeners can go out and get dirt under our finger nails…dirt not mud. My SADD needs some sunshine. Rumor has it that Spring really is coming. In preparation for this alleged transition, here are some things you could do—or not. Your option (but you really should, actually).

LAWN CARE: Tall fescue and bluegrass (actual grass, not banjos) should be fertilized with a slow release, high nitrogen fertilizer. This is the second most important application. The first being in the fall. Follow the recommendation of the SOIL TEST you took in the fall. (You took one to NCDOA, right?) It was free then and will be again in April. Currently there is a fee.

Later this month into early March is the time to apply preemergent herbicide to control spring weeds including crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis). Apply before the dogwoods (Cornus florida) bloom with a calibrated spreader. Too little product will not provide adequate control and too much product could damage the turf.

Digitaria sanguinalis (Crabgrass), Image credit: NC Extension Plant Toolbox, Rasbak CC BY-SA 3.0

FERTILIZING: See LAWN CARE above and PLANTING below.

PLANTING: Oh, yeah! Now we’re talking. Fingers in the cold wet dirt. Does it get any better than that? Well, DUH. Of course it does, but this is the first time this year and firsts are always exciting. Let’s plant vegetables. Root crops can be planted now. We’re talking carrots, onions, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, turnips, and stuff. Want greens with that? Leaf lettuces and spinach can also be planted now. Work a little balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or equivalent) into the soil as you’re planting the seeds. Sorry, but that’s about all for right now. When we ‘re mostly frost-free you can plant flowers. We’ll tell you when.

Assortment of harvested roots in many colors
Image credit: NC Extension Plant Tool Box StefanoCC BY-NC-SA 2.0

PRUNING: Here’s where you can work up a sweat on a 60 degree day. Go ahead and radically prune those overgrown or old shrubs. It sounds drastic (It is.) and can be intimidating the first time you do it, but plants are amazing. You can cut them back to 12”-18” and they will come back in a couple of months and you can control them from there. Cut back ornamental grasses this month. Last year’s growth is looking a bit tired by now and the new blades are still sleeping. Perfect.

Summer flowering shrubs such as Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus serriatcus), butterfly bush (Buddliea davidii), hydrangeas that bloom on new wood, that is, this year’s growth (Hydrangea arborescens & H. paniculata), and crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia sps.). Avoid excessive pruning of Lagerstroemias as it is deleterious to their aesthetic.

SPRAYING: It is time to lavish some love in the orchard (or the single peach tree in the front yard). Stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots) should be sprayed with a fungicide to control a multitude of diseases. Spraying other fruit trees with a dormant oil will help control insects and diseases later.

FOR FUN FILLED FEBRUARY FROLICS try these activities.

Perennials (come back every year) can be divided now should Mother Nature propitiously allow the soil to dry out a bit. Many landscape plants can be propagated this time of the year via hardwood cuttings. Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia sps), flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa), junipers (Juniperus sps), spiraea (Spiraea sps.), and weigelia (Weigelia sps.) are examples of plants that can be propagated this way.

Then there’s this crazy holiday in the middle of the month when people gift each other with plant material (and glittery rocks). Can you imagine? So, guys. Y’all with significant others (or possible/hopefully-soon-to-be significant others) you should…imagine and gift. It seems to be helpful in maintaining the “significant” part of the relationship rather than just becoming an “other.” Just sayin’. BTW, plant material gifting is gender neutral—not so sure about the glittery rocks.