February

Tamp down any young plants that are pushing up from freezing and thawing.

• If soil has been freezing and thawing, check newly planted perennials and shrubs. If root balls have “heaved” up out of soil to expose roots, tamp them back down.
• Prune fruit trees and apply dormant oil during above-40-degree day.
• Take cuttings of spring bloomers such as cherry and magnolia and place in water in a vase for forced indoor blooms.
• If you stored last year’s geraniums, take cuttings, water and put under lights or in a bright spot.
• Start seeds inside of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, chard and most perennial flowers. Also a few early tomatoes if you use Wall-o-Waters or similar freeze protectors for April planting.
• Prune off any broken or storm-damaged branches as soon as you notice them.
• Reapply deer repellents.
• Take advantage of any nice days and thawed ground to edge your garden beds.
• If you’ve overwinter a “mother plant” of a specimen tropical or annual, take cuttings and start them inside in pots under lights or next to a bright window. Some of the easiest are coleus, geraniums, begonias, alternanthera and Persian shield.
• Bring any remaining potted forced bulbs inside or take them out of the refrigerator to begin growing.
• Inspect stored cannas, dahlias, caladium and other tender bulbs. Toss any that are rotting.
• Get your landscaping game plan lined up and plant lists finalized so you can hit the ground running at winter’s end.