Gardening Tips by John Begeman: February Gardening Calendar

	Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information *Gardening Tips by John Begeman*


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Index : February Gardening Calendar

1. Prune trees and shrubs

2. Fertilize deciduous fruit trees

3. Prepare garden soils

4. Water dormant Bermuda grass lawns

5. Water large trees

6. Care for cut flowers

7. Selecting roses for Valentines Day

1. Prune trees and shrubs - Top

Prune trees and shrubs as needed. Remove dead, broken or dying branches. Remove limbs that grow into walkways or structures. Prune out crossing, competing and inward pointing branches on trees. Prune off errant branches to shape shrubs. Selectively cut back or remove individual branches. Never prune excessively! Use hand pruners, loppers, or pruning saws depending on the size of limbs and branches to be removed. Use hedge shears only to trim formal hedges.
- Updated: February, 2002

2. Fertilize deciduous fruit trees - Top

Fertilize deciduous fruit trees such as apple, pear, peach, and apricot. Apply one pound of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) or similar analysis fertilizer in mid-February and repeat every 2 weeks until a total of 4 applications have been made. Distribute the fertilizer evenly from near the trunk out to and slightly beyond the branch ends. After applying the fertilizer, slowly water it into the soil using a portable lawn sprinkler or hand-held watering wand. - Updated: February, 2002

3. Prepare garden soils - Top

Prepare garden soils for spring planting. Vegetable and flower beds are improved by the addition of organic matter. This month, prepare spring garden beds by mixing in lots of organic amendments such as; bagged compost, peat, aged manure, cottonseed meal or other available organics. Before adding the amendment, water the garden bed thoroughly to make tilling easier. Wait a day or so to allow excess water to drain. Then, thoroughly mix in a layer of from 4 to 6 inches of this organic matter into the top 12 inches of garden soil. At the same time, mix in a high phosphorous fertilizer, such as ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) to promote flowering and fruiting. Smooth the prepared bed with a garden rake. Just prior to planting, water the bed again. - Updated: February, 2002

4. Water dormant Bermuda grass lawns - Top

Water dormant Bermuda grass lawns, even if they have not been over seeded with ryegrass. With the dry weather we have been experiencing, dormant Bermuda lawns should be watered once a month until rains return. Apply one-half inch of water with each monthly application. Set cans randomly in the lawn to measure the amount of water applied. - Updated: February, 2002

5. Water large trees - Top

Water large trees such as pine, sycamore, cottonwood, and mesquite. La Nina has left us well below are average winter rainfall, so even desert adapted trees need to be watered. Slowly soak the area under the tree branches. Water long enough to moisten the soil 2 feet down. This could take several hours using a soaker hose or other slow watering devise. To determine when you have moistened the soil to the proper depth, probe into the soil with a metal rod, such as a concrete reinforcing bar, or thick wooden dowel. The probe will push down through moist soil, but will stop when dry soil is reached. Measure the depth on the rod, and adjust your watering as needed. - Updated: February, 2002

6. Care for cut flowers - Top

Care for cut flowers by recutting the base of the stems and changing the water daily. Also keep cut flowers away from ripening fruit. A ripening gas given off by apples, bananas and other fruit will cause flowers to prematurely fade. Cut flower arrangements should be located in a cool location, away from heat sources such as televisions, fireplaces, and lamps. - Updated: February, 2002

7. Selecting roses for Valentines Day - Top

When selecting roses for Valentines Day, avoid purchasing roses that have the bud wired in place to prevent it from drooping. Select flowers that are tight in the bud. Fully opened roses will not last as long. Also look at the base of the flowers, if you notice lower petals have been plucked off, this means the rose is overly mature and will not last. - Updated: February, 2002

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: 1. Prune trees and shrubs; 2. Fertilize deciduous fruit trees; 3. Prepare garden soils; 4. Water dormant Bermuda grass lawns; 5. Water large trees; 6. Care for cut flowers; 7. Selecting roses for Valentines Day

1. Prune trees and shrubs - Top: Prune trees and shrubs as needed. Remove dead, broken or dying branches. Remove limbs that grow into walkways or structures. Prune out crossing, competing and inward pointing branches on trees. Prune off errant branches to shape shrubs. Selectively cut back or remove individual branches. Never prune excessively! Use hand pruners, loppers, or pruning saws depending on the size of limbs and branches to be removed. Use hedge shears only to trim formal hedges.
- Updated: February, 2002

2. Fertilize deciduous fruit trees - Top: Fertilize deciduous fruit trees such as apple, pear, peach, and apricot. Apply one pound of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) or similar analysis fertilizer in mid-February and repeat every 2 weeks until a total of 4 applications have been made. Distribute the fertilizer evenly from near the trunk out to and slightly beyond the branch ends. After applying the fertilizer, slowly water it into the soil using a portable lawn sprinkler or hand-held watering wand. - Updated: February, 2002

3. Prepare garden soils - Top: Prepare garden soils for spring planting. Vegetable and flower beds are improved by the addition of organic matter. This month, prepare spring garden beds by mixing in lots of organic amendments such as; bagged compost, peat, aged manure, cottonseed meal or other available organics. Before adding the amendment, water the garden bed thoroughly to make tilling easier. Wait a day or so to allow excess water to drain. Then, thoroughly mix in a layer of from 4 to 6 inches of this organic matter into the top 12 inches of garden soil. At the same time, mix in a high phosphorous fertilizer, such as ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) to promote flowering and fruiting. Smooth the prepared bed with a garden rake. Just prior to planting, water the bed again. - Updated: February, 2002

4. Water dormant Bermuda grass lawns - Top: Water dormant Bermuda grass lawns, even if they have not been over seeded with ryegrass. With the dry weather we have been experiencing, dormant Bermuda lawns should be watered once a month until rains return. Apply one-half inch of water with each monthly application. Set cans randomly in the lawn to measure the amount of water applied. - Updated: February, 2002

5. Water large trees - Top: Water large trees such as pine, sycamore, cottonwood, and mesquite. La Nina has left us well below are average winter rainfall, so even desert adapted trees need to be watered. Slowly soak the area under the tree branches. Water long enough to moisten the soil 2 feet down. This could take several hours using a soaker hose or other slow watering devise. To determine when you have moistened the soil to the proper depth, probe into the soil with a metal rod, such as a concrete reinforcing bar, or thick wooden dowel. The probe will push down through moist soil, but will stop when dry soil is reached. Measure the depth on the rod, and adjust your watering as needed. - Updated: February, 2002

6. Care for cut flowers - Top: Care for cut flowers by recutting the base of the stems and changing the water daily. Also keep cut flowers away from ripening fruit. A ripening gas given off by apples, bananas and other fruit will cause flowers to prematurely fade. Cut flower arrangements should be located in a cool location, away from heat sources such as televisions, fireplaces, and lamps. - Updated: February, 2002

7. Selecting roses for Valentines Day - Top: When selecting roses for Valentines Day, avoid purchasing roses that have the bud wired in place to prevent it from drooping. Select flowers that are tight in the bud. Fully opened roses will not last as long. Also look at the base of the flowers, if you notice lower petals have been plucked off, this means the rose is overly mature and will not last. - Updated: February, 2002

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