“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.” — Gertrude S. Wister. 

“February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.” — Dr. J. R. Stockton. 

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas Edison.

Winter is only a month old, February has 29 days this year, and spring is only 53 days away. February is the month of hearts, as well as the shortest month of the year. It’s February-time in the landscape! Therefore, with sufficient calendar time to complete “to do’s” in the landscape, here are some notes to follow over the next few weeks. 

Begin planning your annual and perennial planting list for the spring. Also, transplanting existing perennials, and managing your roses by planting, pruning or moving them. Prune the dead wood from all the flowering and non-flowering plants. Cut hydrangea back to three-quarters of their growth. The transplanting season continues for all container plants. Now, all these activities should start about mid-February through early March, unless we experience freezing temps which would delay all efforts.

Bird feeders and bird baths: Be sure to keep your bird feeders filled with bird seed to service all the birds that come your way. Clean any older food left behind from the bird feeder, giving space for fresh food. Also, clean the bird baths and keep sufficient water levels in them to quinch their thirst and allow them to splatter about.

Bird houses: Now is the time to clean out and clean up your birdhouses. Replace rotted wood, re-paint as needed, and check the stability of the support post. 

Crape myrtles: You can propagate crape myrtles from hardwood cuttings of last year’s growth. Make the cuttings about six inches long, and insert in a flat containing a mixture of equal parts of perlite and peat moss. The medium should be well-drained. The cuttings should be rooted and ready to transplant into containers by early summer.

Forced bulbs: After your container-planted narcissus, crocus, and Dutch iris have finished blooming and the foliage has died back, plant them outdoors in the landscape garden. Chances of forcing the bulbs a second time are very slim.

Garden cleanup: Continue removing refuse from lawns, landscape beds and flower areas. Any leaves and dead plants remaining on the ground now will hinder the spring recovery of lawn grasses and perennial flowers. Remove all plant waste to the compost pile, sprinkle it with fertilizer, soak the pile, and turn it over once each week. The compost will be ready to use by early summer. Otherwise, properly dispose or safely burn the debris after obtaining a burn permit in your county.

Greenhouse: This month, sow impatiens, marigolds, scarlet sage (salvia), zinnias, verbena, speedwell, balsam, and coleus in the greenhouse to transplant in the landscape garden after the last spring frost. Coleus, begonias, and geraniums can also be grown from cuttings. Vegetables to sow now for April transplanting include eggplant, bell peppers and tomatoes.

Groundcovers: Place your lawn mower on the highest setting and mow the mondo grass and liriope later in the month. This procedure will allow the plants a fresh start at the beginning of the new season. Apply proper mulch to prevent weeds and add to the curb appeal. In establishing new plantings, select the proper plant materials for the host microenvironment whether sun, shade, or a mix.

Knock-out roses: Knock-out roses can be pruned this month (after the middle of the month). They can be pruned to about one foot from the ground level with five to seven strong canes. New purchases are either in container or bare root packed. Look at the grade (1, 1.5, 2) and select the one most favorable to you. A grade “1” has better quality than a grade “2”, but either works.

Lantana: Lantana can be pruned after the severe weather has passed for the season. They can be pruned to about one foot from the ground level and selecting strong support leaders to start the new generation of growth for the season.

Pets: Continue to monitor the night weather and keep outdoor dog houses warm and clean or bring your outdoor pets inside protecting them from any harsh conditions. They are family and their safety is most important.

Pine cones and sticks: Continue to pick up all pine cones and limb debris from the lawn and landscape bed areas for curb appeal. These items can be used effectively as starter wood for your burn piles and burn barrels. Call and get a burn permit before burning any debris.

Valentine’s Day: Valentine’s Day is a good timing indicator to follow in deciding when to begin your basic pruning of roses and lantana, etc., if and only if all the severe winter weather has passed. Otherwise, wait a week or so because the intact growth will serve as a buffer to protect the rest of the plant from potential cold damage.

Late February is usually the time for pruning your summer flowering trees and shrubs, such as crape myrtles and knock-out roses. Just be sure that any extremely cold weather is behind us. This is not the time to prune the needle evergreens.

Get prepared for the upcoming hectic pace that will develop throughout all your yard activities in February and March. It’s almost pruning time for many landscape plants. Enjoy the remainder of this wintery season with warm clothing, a smile and enough energy sufficient to satisfy the needs of your lawns, landscape plants and beds as spring approaches. You will enjoy the benefits of your labor throughout the seasons to come through curb appeal, area usage and sustainability. Always think native plants!

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.” — 1 Peter 1:23.

“Once you were alienated from God … but now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” — Colossians 1:22. 

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” — Romans 1:20.

Seagle is a Sustainability Verifier, Golf Environment Organization (Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist, CSI: Seagle (Consulting Services International) LLC, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Alumnus (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning (University System of Georgia) and Short Term Missionary (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to csi_seagle @yahoo.com.