February

My husband always says I am jumping the starter gun, but in my mind, February is the true beginning of spring! By now many of the bulbs we planted in the fall are poking their heads up out of the ground, new buds are being set on most of the trees, and there is the occasional day of mild temps and warmth from the sun. It’s time to start gardening (at least in baby steps).

Whatever tasks you might set for yourself, remember that those baby steps should only be taken on firm ground! That precious soil is soaked with the wonderful rains we’ve had and your steps will compact the soil which prevents good drainage and the healthy development of root structures. Though they must be placed in summer, so you know what’s beneath, steppingstones are a great way to avoid compaction and tromping on perennials that have yet to break the surface after winter dormancy. If there are no steppingstones in place and you just have to get in there to pull weeds or dabble, temporarily lay out a small piece of plywood to distribute your weight (think snowshoes).

Here are some tasks that will help you leapfrog into the growing season:

~ Mulch, mulch, mulch! Now is the time to add to your mulch and mediate the growth of those rascal weeds that flourish in March (many of the weed seeds germinate in March). Mulch will not prevent all weeds, but those that are persistent in spite of our efforts are easily plucked from the ground if it has been well mulched.

~ Prune overgrown shrubs, roses that you didn’t get to in January, ornamental grasses, and winter bloomers like Mahonia or Heather (always after flowering). This is also the prime time to prune your espaliered fruit trees. We prune them in the summer for function, but winter is the time to prune for form and these guys desperately need pruning to maintain their beautiful shape.

~ Take time to seriously plan your next veggies garden. Think about what and how much your family will eat and plant accordingly. Planning is the time to lean into the idea of permaculture and build plant guilds where plants are paired for mutual benefit. These groupings help bring in bees, repel pests, and increase the flavor of each product. This is the way nature works and we can learn a thing or two from her!

~ Those of you who have worked with me, will surely predict this next suggestion – plant natives! Natives planted at this time of the year will benefit greatly from the rains (and what a wet year we are having!) and develop strong root systems for robust plants in the spring. And of course, everything benefits from the addition of natives – birds, beneficial insects, soils, and critters all love these plants.

~ As I rarely do it myself, I hesitate to suggest this task, but others enjoy it so here goes. Now is the time to start seeds indoors or if you’re lucky enough to have one, in the greenhouse. Plants differ, but a general rule of thumb is planting seeds about 6 weeks before you plan to plant them in the ground. They need time to germinate and grow, but they also need time for hardening off and this can take many days if the weather is uncooperative. The last time I started seeds, I lost the entire crop one afternoon, when they were outside hardening off and the weather suddenly turned very cold and windy. Call me a lazy gardener if you like, but I think buying starts from a quality nursery brings a greater chance of success!

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