To Do in the Garden: February, 2025

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

*A stellar dendrite snow crystal.* (Image Credit: Kenneth Libbrecht, Caltech)

Wow! Two snows in ten days. Grandma always said that if snow sticks around for a week, it’s just awaitin’ for company. This is one of the few times I’m glad I don’t live at the beach. It’s not often in North Carolina that one can clear their driveway of snow with a backpack blower, but it sure beats slingin’ a shovel. Give me powder snow any day over the wet stuff. Dendrites vs. plates. Yup. Perfect. Way better than the experiences of my youth in upstate New York. It was usually powder, but way too much of it at one time for the blower (which didn’t exist then).

So, now we can have spring, right? No?? Oh. The seeds you ordered from the catalog haven’t A) arrived, B) sprouted, C) grown to transplant size, D) all of the above? Pick one. Unfortunately, the deadline for this is before February 2, so I’m unable to say how much longer winter will last. The prematurely-plucked-from-hibernation prognosticator has not yet “spoken.” However, it’s supposed to be sunny on Sunday. Draw your own conclusion.

While we’re all waiting for whatever, there are a few things we can do to remind us that we are all gardeners, after all, and Spring isn’t nearly as far away as it was at the winter solstice.

Lawn Care

Time for the second most important fertilizer application for cool-season grasses (tall fescue & bluegrass). Apply a slow-release product as per the recommendation of the SOIL TEST I know you took in the Fall.

Late this month or early March is the ideal time to apply preemergent crabgrass control to all lawns. Do it before the dogwoods (Cornus florida) bloom to achieve optimum control. Accuracy is important. Read the label and calibrate your spreader. Too little product will not give good control. Too much may damage the turf.

Fertilizer

See LAWN CARE above & PLANTING below.

Planting

Here we go! The long wait is over. Get your hands dirty. Early indications are that we won’t have to worry about mud or frozen fingers. Work that soil. At least be ready in case we get some moisture. Stick some salad greens and root vegetables in the ground. Things that will tolerate early planting include (in alphabetical order, no less) cabbage, carrots, leaf lettuce, onions, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, and turnips. For sure, you tested the soil in the Fall when it was free and added the lime recommended by NCDOA. Now, add the fertilizer.

There is nothing better than fresh veggies from the garden. Plant carrots and leafy greens today so you can enjoy them tomorrow. (Image Credit: Marcia Kirinus)

Pruning

Last call for pruning fruit trees and bunch grapes. It’s also a perfect time to trim summer-flowering shrubs and trees e.g., Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) (Please avoid severe pruning of crape myrtles, otherwise known as “crape murder.” It isn’t good for the tree, and it certainly messes with its aesthetics.), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), and hydrangeas that bloom on new wood (H. arborescens & H. paniculata).

Ornamental grasses should be cut back this month before the new growth emerges.

This is also the best time to do any major remedial pruning of broadleaf evergreen shrubs. If they’re way overgrown, go for it. They can be cut back 12” to 18” and not only survive but thrive.

Spraying

Those of you with fruit trees, it’s time to break out the sprayer. Peaches and nectarines need a fungicide application to control leaf curl. Spraying your fruit trees with dormant oil now will help control several insects later in the year.

More Freezing Finger February Fun Stuff

Do some hardwood cutting propagation. This time of the year, you can take cuttings from plants like crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.), flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp.), junipers (Juniperus spp.), spiraea (Spiraea spp.), and weigela (Weigela spp.). Then play with them. There’s a Propagation Team at the Extension Master Gardener volunteer HQ. They love to share their extensive knowledge if you so desire.

Perennials can be divided.

Make the bluebird of happiness happy by cleaning out her house. She and her mate will reward you by moving in come Spring.

One last thing. There’s this sorta special holiday that we usually celebrate with plant material of some sort in the middle of the month. Order it now or sleep on the couch on February 15th. FYI, flowers as a gift are gender-neutral. Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all.