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.

Protect citrus from frost with old-fashioned Christmas lights or other incandescent light under a frost cover. (Photo: Jeannette Warnert)

Tasks

• Check your sprinklers and turn them off when the amount of rain permits.
• Make sure trees are getting enough water. Avoid overhead irrigation if frost is expected.

Pruning

• Evergreens, shrubs such as pittosporum and podocarpus, and deciduous trees and fruit and nut trees - except apricot, oleander, and olive

Fertilizing

• Fertilize fall-planted annuals and perennials. Apply one-third of the needed annual amount of fertilizer to deciduous fruit and nut trees.

Planting

• Consider the needs of your plants before planting and put shade-loving and sun-loving plants in appropriate locations.
• Bare root planting season ends in early February.
• Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, cabbage, chard.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula, Lenten rose (helleborus orientalis).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: crocus.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: camellias.
• Fruits and vegetables: bok choy, cabbage, chard, grapefruit.

Things to ponder

• Be aware of the continuing threat of frost damage - almond blossoms, citrus, and avocados are at risk at 29 degrees or lower.

Spray peach and nectarine trees with an organic copper-based material before bud swell and bud break to prevent the later development of peach leaf curl, shown above. The product is available at nurseries and home stores. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Tasks

• Peruse seed catalogs looking for disease-resistant strains.
• Shop now for bare root grape and berry vines.
• Deeply water trees and native plants if rainfall has been light.
• Peach leaf curl is best controlled by fixed copper spray at bud swell before bud break.

Pruning

• Crepe myrtles and redbuds may be pruned now.
• Do not apply any treatment to pruning cuts or other wounds because these materials are ineffective and often are detrimental.
• Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom.

Planting

• Planting annuals and perennials for spring bloom starts next month, look now for new varieties of spring vegetables and summer blooming bulbs.
• Sow seeds of summer annuals and vegetables in flats in a protected location or indoors.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule), camellias, Callistemon ‘Little John.'
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: freesia, daffodil, crocus.
• Fruits and vegetables:  lemon, navel orange and spinach.

Things to ponder

• Sharp tools make cleaner cuts. Clean and maintain pruning equipment.
• This is a good time to divide African violets for early spring bloom.
• When the soil is cold and wet, citrus trees and other plants may not be able to make efficient use of iron, nitrogen and other nutrients even though there is an adequate supply available in the root zone. This problem usually disappears when soil conditions improve, and no further action is required.
• Automatic sprinklers should be turned off completely during periods of rainfall.

Citrus fruit is abundant in the winter. Enjoy now! (Photo: PickPik)

Tasks

Rainfall may not reach areas under eaves and overhangs. Check soil moisture and apply supplemental water if needed.

Apply preemergent herbicide to lawns and beds in the latter part of the month to control crabgrass and other early germinating weeds.

Pruning

Finish pruning roses and deciduous fruit trees by the end of the month.

At bud swell, spray deciduous fruit, almond trees and roses with dormant oil to prevent and control over-wintering insects.

Prune out fire blight infections. Remove the infected shoot or branch at its point of origin.

Fertilizing

Fertilize spring-flowering perennials, annuals, bulbs and shrubs.

Yellow foliage, particularly the youngest leaves, may be attributed to iron deficiency. Yellowing in older leaves may be attributed to nitrogen deficiency.

Prune out shoots and branches that show symptoms of fire blight infection. (Photo: UC IPM)

Group plants with similar water needs together.

This is a good time to move perennials, shrubs or small trees.

Spring planting season begins next month. Work on your garden plans and be ready to start next month.

Enjoy now

Annuals and perennials: feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium), toadflax (Linaria maroccana), cyclamen.

Citrus fruits are abundant now - use them to brighten up the winter menu.

Things to ponder

Leave frost-damaged growth on tender plants as protection until the danger of frost is past. Begin pruning as new growth emerges.