Gardening Chores & Tips for February
Roses
Bare-root roses are available at garden centers now. Soak roots overnight in water before planting. Dig holes in well-prepared beds, large enough to allow the roots to spread in a natural position. Prune your roses around February 15. Mulch to minimize weed problems.
Spring Blooms
When forsythia, quince, star magnolia and saucer magnolia buds show a touch of color, they are easy to force into bloom indoors. Cut branches, taking care not to destroy the natural shape of the plant. They should be in full bloom several days after you place them in a vase of water indoors.
Fruit and Vegetables
Plant blackberry root cuttings. Mulch rabbit eye blueberry plants with pine straw or hay. Vegetable plantings should include seed potatoes, onion sets, leaf and head lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. These vegetables are somewhat frost-tolerant. Grow a salad sampler in a single patch, mixing seeds of different lettuces and specialty greens.
Soils
To test your soil, send one pint of soil to the LSU Soils Lab. Download forms from www.lsuagcenter.com/stpal/forms.asp, or pick up at your parish extension office. This sample should be a composite of soil plugs taken from several areas six inches deep and mixed together. To improve soil add organic matter such as peat moss, rotted compost and pine straw. It will loosen soil and add nutrients.
Tree Fertilization
Fertilize healthy trees by placing fertilizer in holes dug into the soil. The holes should begin about halfway between the trunk and drip line, then extended two to three feet to the drip line and several feet beyond.
Bare-root roses are available at garden centers now. Soak roots overnight in water before planting. Dig holes in well-prepared beds, large enough to allow the roots to spread in a natural position. Prune your roses around February 15. Mulch to minimize weed problems.
Spring Blooms
When forsythia, quince, star magnolia and saucer magnolia buds show a touch of color, they are easy to force into bloom indoors. Cut branches, taking care not to destroy the natural shape of the plant. They should be in full bloom several days after you place them in a vase of water indoors.
Fruit and Vegetables
Plant blackberry root cuttings. Mulch rabbit eye blueberry plants with pine straw or hay. Vegetable plantings should include seed potatoes, onion sets, leaf and head lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. These vegetables are somewhat frost-tolerant. Grow a salad sampler in a single patch, mixing seeds of different lettuces and specialty greens.
Soils
To test your soil, send one pint of soil to the LSU Soils Lab. Download forms from www.lsuagcenter.com/stpal/forms.asp, or pick up at your parish extension office. This sample should be a composite of soil plugs taken from several areas six inches deep and mixed together. To improve soil add organic matter such as peat moss, rotted compost and pine straw. It will loosen soil and add nutrients.
Tree Fertilization
Fertilize healthy trees by placing fertilizer in holes dug into the soil. The holes should begin about halfway between the trunk and drip line, then extended two to three feet to the drip line and several feet beyond.