- Author: Sue Davis, Master Gardener
January, February, and March
The weather may be dreary but there are still chores to consider this wintery season. Hopefully, there are enough pleasant winter days to get them accomplished.
January Ideas
ONE – Plant deciduous flowering cherries and plums, dormant fruit trees, Japanese maples or a bare root rose if there is room in the landscape. Deciduous vines like Akebia and Boston Ivy can be planted this month, as well. If room in the landscape is limited, pick up a few summer blooming bulbs (such as dahlias, gladiolus, lilies and begonias) and plant them in the ground where they will add color to the landscape or in a pot that can be moved at will.
TWO – Sharpen pruning tools, then dry them and rub them lightly with oil to prevent rust.
THREE – Prune your roses with those sharp pruners. Vines, fruit and shade trees and grapes will benefit from a good pruning if there are no roses needing a pruning. Avoid pruning apricots and cherries until after harvest. Be sure to clean your pruners after you are finished.
FOUR – Don't' forget to water houseplants, especially if the heater has been on. Remove landscape plants that are not doing well. It will make room for a new, healthier, native plant that will take less water once established.
FIVE - Now is a great time to order your favorite seeds for your summer vegetable garden.
In February
ONE – These days can be dreary. Repot houseplants and succulents or plant some early blooming plants like flowering plums, lavender, and rosemary. Good California natives to consider are Ceanothus and manzanita.
TWO – Spread some love. Give a small native California plant to a friend, a neighbor, a family member, or yourself. The plant will flourish in our climate and need far less water than other specimens once it reaches maturity
THREE – Nursery's should have edibles available to plant. Look for potatoes (great fun for children to plant now and search for once they're ready to harvest), onions, garlic, asparagus, and rhubarb. Snails and slugs love rhubarb leaves, so plan accordingly.
FOUR – Feed citrus trees with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer that contains additional nutrients such as Magnesium, Boron, Copper, and Zinc.
FIVE - Now is the time to start indoor seeds for your summer garden. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and others can all be started now.
SIX - Protect frost sensitive plants from cold injury when freezing or frost are predicted.
SEVEN - Mid February is your last chance to treat your peach or nectarine tree for Peach Leaf Curl.
EIGHT - Look for Fire blight (oozing and dead limbs) on pome plants such as apple, crabapple, pear, and pyracantha. If a problem in the past, apply blossom sprays to prevent new infections.
March Notes
ONE – Fertilize this month! Give new plants a strong start and established plants a helping hand. Garden plants, houseplants, vegetables, and cacti will all benefit from some fertilizer this month.
TWO - Prune suckers from trees and shrubs. Also prune freeze damaged plants now unless the freeze damaged plant is a spring blooming shrub. In that case, wait until after the shrub has flowered.
THREE – Check drip irrigation for leaks in the lines and make repairs as needed. Flush out sediment from filters, check screens for algae and clean with a small brush, if necessary. Make sure all emitters are dripping water. If some are clogged, replace them (if you can't remove one, install a new emitter next to it). Add emitters to lines if plants have grown significantly since the system was installed. Put new batteries in your electronic drip controllers and check the settings. Checking, repairing, adding/changing emitters and all the other things involved in readying drip irrigation for the coming season often takes longer than anticipated. Feel free to make this chore last two weeks.
FOUR – Head into your local nursery to see (and maybe purchase) annuals, vegetables, and perennials that are available now to fill in those bare spots in the landscape.
FIVE - Eliminate standing water e.g., in gutters, drain pipes, and flowerpots to prevent mosquitoes. Store containers upside down, cover, or dispose of them so mosquitoes can't lay eggs.
Information gathered from:
UC IPM
Sunset Garden
Farmer Fred
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