It's blossom season in Fresno County. (Photos: Jeannette Warnert)

Tasks

• Continue fruit tree spraying and spray fungicide on apple and cherry trees.
• Weed by hand-pulling, hoeing, or if there is no alternative, apply herbicide on a calm day so that spray will not drift.

Pruning

• After bloom, prune spring-flowering shrubs, trees, and vines to improve shape.
• Shear back ornamental grasses and ground covers such as lantana, verbena, Asian jasmine, and vinca.
• Shape hedges.

Fertilizing

• Apply one third of the needed amount of fertilizer to deciduous fruit and nut trees.
• Wait until after bloom to fertilize acid-loving plants and use a product formulated for them.
• Fertilize blooming ornamental deciduous trees 2 or 3 weeks after bloom.

Prune spring-flowering trees, shrubs and vines after bloom.

• Sow seeds for summer vegetables. Although many vegetables can be planted this month, tomatoes, summer squash, and beans are better planted later in spring.
• Annuals: impatiens, alyssum (Lobularia), plant from seed.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: tiger flower (Tigridia).
• Fruits and vegetables: daikon, eggplant, melon, carrots, plant from seed.
• Perennials: Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), coral bells (Heuchera), gayfeather (Liatris).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: California lilac (Ceanothus), deodar (Cedrus deodara), redbud (Cercis occidentalis), citrus.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: dianthus, Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: grape hyacinth (Muscari), ‘Paper White' narcissus.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: saucer magnolia, star magnolia.
• Fruits and vegetables: lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas.

Things to ponder

• Protect tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant from a late frost by using hot caps or floating row covers.  

Pick up any camelia petals and blossoms that have fallen on the ground to prevent petal blight in the future. After camelias have finished blooming, it's time to fertilize. (Photo: Jeannette Warnert)

Tasks

• Inspect trees for die-back and weak limbs, which are common in drought-stressed plants, and remove them before they become a safety hazard.
• Leave frost-damaged growth on tender plants as protection until the danger of frost is past. Begin pruning as new growth emerges.
• Keep fallen camellia petals picked up to avoid petal blight.

Pruning

• Finish deciduous pruning. Chip debris for mulch.
• Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom.
• Cut back scented geraniums to 18 inches.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize blooming ornamentals such as camellias and azaleas that have finished blooming.
• Fertilize cool-season lawns late in the month if fall fertilization was missed.

Planting

• Add permanent plantings of non-deciduous and needle evergreens.
• Annuals: fibrous begonia, twinspur (Diascia).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: autumn crocus.
• Fruits and vegetables: cabbage, lemon grass (Cymbopogon).
• Perennials: Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia), wallflower (Erysimum), blanket flower (Gaillardia).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: bird of paradise bush (Caesalpinia), beautyberry (Callicarpa), bottlebrush (Callistemon).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: calendula, larkspur (Consolida).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: daffodil, iris.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: dogwood (Cornus), forsythia, lemon.
• Fruits and vegetables: chives, fennel, kohlrabi, leek.

Things to ponder

• Water may be scarce again this summer. Limit new plantings of annuals and bedding plants, and consider converting part of your landscape watering system to drip irrigation.

Prune deciduous trees this month, before they leaf out. (Photo: Jeannette Warnert)

• Sharpen tools to make cleaner cuts. Clean and maintain pruning equipment.
• Keep weeds under control – remove or kill weeds before they mature and produce seeds.

Pruning

• Deadhead winter annuals to prolong bloom.
• Prune deciduous trees and all fruit and nut trees except apricot, oleander, and olive.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize plants that are actively growing.
• Fertilize roses after pruning and as buds begin to break.

Planting

• Spring planting season begins and continues through April.
• Plant annuals for spring and summer color. When setting out transplants, hold them by the root ball and tease the roots apart and cut off any thatched roots on the bottom of the plant.
• Annuals: floss flower (Ageratum), bachelor's button (Centaurea), cosmos, plant from seed.
• Fruits and vegetables: beets, bell pepper, carrots, chives, plant from seed.
• Perennials: columbine (Aquilegia), artemisia, aster, butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), Abelia, manzanita (Arctostaphylos), azalea (Rhododendron).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: Ajuga reptans, English daisy (Bellis perennis), bergenia.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: baboon flower (Babiana), crocosmia.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: azalea, camellia, redbud (Cercis).
• Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower.

Things to ponder

• Wait until the danger of frost has passed to set out frost-tender plants.
• On average, the last frost date for the Fresno area is Feb. 15, but frost may occur later. Check the temperatures in your area.

Drought tip

• Automatic sprinklers should be turned off during periods of rainfall.

Plant perennial Lenten roses now in areas that get some some shade to enjoy blooms in late winter each year. (Photo: Jeannette Warnert)

Tasks

• Irrigate citrus and almonds at night if frost is expected.
• Apply pre-emergent herbicide in early February to flower beds and water-permeable paths.
• Provide frost protection. Move or cover tender plants. Use floating row covers or fabric and uncover plants during the day. Plastic is not recommended.

Pruning

• It is now or never for pruning hydrangeas. Remove a third of the old wood for maximum bloom.
• Prune evergreen shrubs such as pittosporum, podocarpus, euonymus, lavender, sage, buddleja, rosemary.

Fertilizing

• Apply one-third of the needed annual amount of fertilizer to deciduous fruit, nut and citrus trees. They need feeding two to three weeks before bloom.
• Fertilize annuals and perennials that were planted in the fall.

Planting

• Make certain a plant's basic sun and shade needs are considered before planting.
• Bare root planting season ends in early February.
• Perennials: Lenten rose (Helleborus), Salvia ‘Rose Pink' (Salvia greggii), Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow', Euporbia ‘martini'
• Perennial Grasses: Needle Grass (Nassella), Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum').
• Fruits and vegetables: potatoes and rhubarb.
• Annuals: phlox drummondii, plant from seed.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: sweet gum (Liquidambar), Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: annual phlox drummondii, sweet peas.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: hyacinth (Hyacinthus).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: forsythia.
• Fruits and vegetables: navel oranges, spinach, chard.

Things to ponder

• In years when rainfall is below normal, consider planting drought-tolerant plants. Look for native or Mediterranean labels.
• When forsythia begins to bloom, apply pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn to prevent crabgrass.