February’s longer days and moderate temperatures make this a great month for gardening. Sadly, I’m spending most of my time trying to catch up with the weeds that came with our December rains. If you need help identifying and removing the variety growing in your yard, take a look the University of California’s web site. It has helpful information for identifying and dealing with common Southern California weeds.
Here are some February gardening tips to keep your yard healthy and happy.
Roses for Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day change it up and give your loved one a rose plant instead of a bouquet. Check your local nursery for red roses recommended by the San Diego Rose Society:
- ‘Valentine’s Day’—mini floribunda climber 8-10 feet with soft-red blossoms and no fragrance.
- ‘Let Freedom Ring’—vigorous, hybrid tea with strawberry-red blooms and a light, sweet fragrance.
- ‘Black Buccara’—tall, hybrid tea with burgundy-red and black tones and no fragrance.
- ‘Firefighter’—hybrid tea with dark red on top of petals and lighter underneath. Fragrance is lovely with hints of raspberries.
- ‘Altissimo’—climber for covering a trellis with single, crimson blossoms and a clove fragrance.
- ‘The Dark Lady’—David Austin English Rose with dark crimson flowers and good fragrance.
Protect Your Plants from Frost
My north-facing backyard shows damage from frosts earlier this month. To keep that from happening in your yard, protect your tender plants when there’s a frost warning by making sure they are well irrigated. The moist soil holds heat and helps your plants fight the frost.
If you have potted plants move them closer to the house or inside a garage or shed for the night. If the plant is too big to move or in the ground, cover it with a sheet or large cloth for the night. Try to keep the cloth above the leaves so the cold cloth doesn’t damage them.
If your plants do get frost damage, don’t prune them yet. The damaged parts may recover, plus pruning will start new growth which is most easily frost damaged. Wait until spring when we are past the chance of more frost.
Feed Plants
Feed ground covers, roses, shrubs, perennials and trees. You can use a slow-release, granular fertilizer or other slow-release food like bone meal, cottonseed meal or well-rotted manure.
Although experts don’t all agree on the best time to feed spring bulbs like paperwhites and other daffodils, using a slow-release fertilizer on them now will help them access nutrients and store energy for next year’s growth.
A lot of information for February Gardening Tips 2020 comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.