February

•    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 overwintered 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.
•  Scout the landscape for eggs of spotted lanternflies and destroy them to reduce this year’s population that will hatch in spring. Look on outdoor furniture, rocks, car wheel wells, and fences besides just the trees.