Wait until next month before pruning any perennials, shrubs or trees
that were injured during December's freezing mornings. If it gets
really cold again, those open wounds may invite further
disaster.
Wait until next month before pruning any perennials, shrubs or trees
that were injured during December's freezing mornings. If it gets
really cold again, those open wounds may invite further
disaster.
Be sure to rake up and discard all the fallen leaves around your rose
bushes, which may be harboring next season's pest
problems.
Plan on spraying your deciduous fruit trees again this month. This
will help control peach leaf curl. Your local nurseryperson can
direct you to the right shelf for the product that's intended for
your particular fruit tree variety.
Clean and sharpen all your pruning tools when you're done. Don't put
them away wet and dirty, which can encourage the formation of
rust.
Think about what you want in your summer garden, then hit the
catalogs or seed racks at your local nursery.
If crabgrass is a problem in your yard, control it now with a
preemergent, before it germinates next month.
Winter-flowering plants need a feeding with a balanced fertilizer to
keep blooming in these cold months. Among those that should be fed:
primroses, stock, calendula, snapdragons, iceland poppies, pansies
and violas.
Bare root plants are available at nurseries now. Choose from a wide
assortment of fruit trees, roses, grapes and berries.
Artichokes and gladiolus can be planted this month. Plant a few
gladiolas every three weeks until July for a continuous bloom from
spring until fall.
Camellias at the nurseries will be in bloom now; choose one that
catches your eye.
Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors in small containers or peat
pots, either on a sunny window sill or beneath flourescent
lights.
Now is the good time for pruning deciduous fruit trees, grapes and
roses. If you're unsure how to proceed, check with your favorite
nurseryperson. Two good books on the subject include Ortho's "All
About Pruning" and Sunset's "Pruning Handbook".
When selecting bare root roses, look for those with a grade number of
one. These are the healthiest roses available.
Perennials that can be divided now include shasta daisies and day
lilies.
Plan on spraying your deciduous fruit trees one more time before
Valentine's Day. A copper-based spray will help control peach leaf
curl and brown rot.
Apply a dormant oil spray on your roses and deciduous fruit trees
now. This will suffocate spring and summer pests, including
scale.
Pre-emergents, applied now to your lawn, can help stop the summertime
onslaught of crabgrass.
When planting bare root fruit trees, make sure they will be in an
area with good drainage.
Add a splash of winter color to your porch or patio. Pot up
transplants of primrose, cyclamen, pansy and calendula, now appearing
at area nurseries.
