February is here, which means the stores are all full of pink and red, you can eat as much chocolate as you want, and it is time to get busy in the garden.
February is one of those months where the weather slowly transitions away from one pattern and into another. In the case of February, it often means we get to start seeing the sunshine again.
There are many things that you can do in the garden during February to set things ahead for spring. The cold weather is not over completely but, there are spots of sunshine and it is important to take advantage of them.
Here are just a few things to do outside in your yard this month:
- Cut it back. If you have any bushes or shrubs like wisteria, cornus, etc. this is the time to trim back the overwintered branches and sticks. These bushes are nice in the winter because they keep their shape and provide some greenery but, if the winter has been especially harsh, some of the branches might be damaged and dead. It is best to “start fresh” and trim these areas back so that when the spring arrive the bushes can flourish.
- February is a good time to plant lily bulbs for spring blossoms. Having freshly blooming lilies is a great way to celebrate Easter in April and, now is the time to get those bulbs in the ground. Make sure to protect the holes with a nice layer of wet mulch, just in case there is one last surprise freeze.
- Get to weeding. Now is the time to get the soil ready for planting. Mulch perennial vegetables like asparagus now. And, prepare vegetable planting beds by removing all weeds and debris that may have accumulated during the last few months.
If you have any plans to use raised beds this season, now is the time to install them and get them ready. You will need to mulch and tend the soil a bit to get it ready for planting, so this is a good time to do all of that. A successful landscaping and gardening plan has plenty of lead time built in as you can’t rush the growing process. But, you sure can encourage it by getting the soil prepared and well-tended.