Pulaski County Home and Garden
Gardening by Beth Phelps
Active Years Garden Checklist - February 2005
Pruning - As winter begins to give way to spring, it is time to prune
summer blooming shrubs such as crape myrtle, butterfly bush, summer blooming
spireas and evergreens, if needed. Summer bloomers produce flowers on new
growth. Pruning in late winter gets the job done before the new growth begins
and flowering is not delayed.
And more pruning, fruit trees - Fruit bearing trees such as apples,
peaches, plums, pears and grapes, unlike ornamental trees and shrubs, need to be
pruned every year. Opening up the canopy increasing air circulation, important
to help reduce diseases and light penetration, which is important for ripening
and fruit quality.
Do not prune - Spring blooming trees and shrubs should not be pruned
in late winter, their flower buds are formed and ready to open as temperatures
warm. Azaleas, forsythia, weigela, dogwood, Carolina jessamine and other spring
“beauties” can be pruned after they bloom.
Hybrid Tea Roses - These roses generally bloom from late spring
through late fall. Hybrid tea bushes should be pruned in late February just as
new growth begins. Prune each cane back to 12 to 15 inches. Make cuts just above
a bud pointing outward so that new grow is directed away from the center of the
bush and toward sunlight. To protect against the rose cane borer treat the fresh
cut with glue. Faded flowers should be removed throughout the growing season to
encourage continuous blooming. Antique and climbing roses should be treated
differently. For more information about roses visit the American Rose Society
website www.ars.org.
Ornamental Grasses - Before new growth begins, remove the old dead
foliage of ornamental grasses in the landscape. Once growth begins this becomes
almost impossible without damage, so put this gardening chore on the top of your
to do list. Even though not a true grass, the old foliage of liriope or Monkey
grass can be removed. For large areas use a string trimmer or lawn mower.
Removing the old growth is not essential, but removing the old damaged foliage
does insure that the plants will look their best throughout the season.
Weed Control - It may seem early to begin controlling summer weeds,
but crabgrass and other warm season weed seeds begin to germinate as soil
temperatures rise. By applying pre-emergent or preventative herbicides mid to
late February, these weeds are killed as they emerge. Wait too late and these
products are no-longer effective. Wait to fertilize until the lawn greens up so
that you get the most efficient use of the fertilizer.
Cool Vegetables - It is not too early to begin planting the spring
vegetable garden. Cool season crops such as broccoli, cabbage, radishes, kale,
turnips, Irish potatoes and onions planted now will yield their harvest soon.
Bulbs- As the new green foliage of spring blooming bulbs pokes up in
the garden it is time to fertilize. These plants are dormant during the summer
months when most fertilizer applications are made. An application of 10-10-10,
or any general fertilizer, provides these plants with the nutrients they need to
increase in size providing more flowers next spring.
Horticulture Oil Spray - In the early spring, as temperatures rise
above 40 degrees for several days at a time, an application of horticulture oil
will safely kill over-wintering soft-bodied insects such as scale, whiteflies
and aphids. Since horticulture oil is not a poison and works by coating insects,
good cover is important. Make sure the spray covers both the upper and lower
surface of leaves and gets into bark cracks and crevices. As with any spray read
and follow label directions.
Plant of the Month - Hellebores - In bloom now, hellebores grace the
landscape when little else is happening with their white, purple, dusty pink or
green flowers. Their coarse textured evergreen leaves make a nice backdrop for
the summer bloomers in the shade garden.
Get planting - It is not too early to begin planting and/or dividing
perennials. The selection at your favorite nursery may not be all that great yet
but check often because new stock will be arriving.
Get Inspired - Attend the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, “Spring
Time in Arkansas”, February 25, 26 and 27 at the State House Convention Center
in Little Rock. It will inspire any garden enthusiast. For exhibitor, speaker
and ticket information visit
www.arflowerandgardenshow.org.
This article was Originally Published in
Active Years
Magazine
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