SPRING WILL OFFICIALLY BE HERE IN APPROXIMATELY 46 DAYS
GROUNDHOG DAY JUST HAPPENED:
GROUNDHOG POPS US
(Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”)
HERE’S A LITTLE GROUNDHOG, FURRY AND BROWN,
HE’S POPPING UP TO LOOK AROUND.
IF HE SEES HIS SHADOW, DOWN HE’LL GO.
THEN SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER – OH NO!!
So, did he or did he not see his shadow? This is the debate that has been around since 1887 at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, PA.
Bottom line, I like our winters in the Richmond area—especially with how January was so kind and mild. January gave us some nice weekly rains that kept our soil moist and our plants watered. I don’t think I had to water any of my container gardens in January. Thank you Mother Nature!! And, our soil temperature is 43 degrees.
HERE ARE SOME CHORES THAT CAN BE DONE IN FEBRUARY
- As for doing some pruning, I depend on the SHRUB PRUNING CALENDAR from Virginia Tech to give me correct information. Here is a quick list of plants to be pruned—IF NEEDED ONLY! Abelia, Boxwoods, Cotoneasters, Roses, Euonymus, Hydrangea (summer-blooming, not the spring blooming varieties with blue or pink color blooms), Junipers, Nandinas, Yews, and more. DO NOT PRUNE ANY SHRUB OR TREE THAT FLOWERS IN THE SPRING like our azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, pieris, etc.
- Speaking of pruning—February is the month to prune fruit trees. When pruning be sure to remove any dead wood. Also, remove any crossing branches or branches that are rubbing against one another.
- Also with our fruit trees and shrubs, February is a good month to apply a dormant oil spray.
- February is a great month to do a SOIL TEST. We can help you with this task. Come see us. I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing your soil for the health and vigor of your plants and lawn.
- Toward the end of February is the time to put down a crabgrass pre-emergent to your lawn. You want to get this product down before our forsythia shrubs stop blooming. With this mild winter we are experiencing—only Mother Nature knows when forsythia shrubs will bloom. Another thing—think about using Corn Gluten as the pre-emergent. Corn Gluten is organic and much kinder to our environment and to nature.
There is a lot that can be done with gardening in February. Take advantage of nice, sunny days and take a stroll around your gardens. Fresh air, sunlight, and being around green plants can be very comforting to the soul.
HAPPY GARDENING!!!!!!!!