Emily's Gardening Almanac Timely Tips from a Professional Gardening Expert

February

• This is a good month to lightly prune Crapemyrtles. Please do not mutilate your tree.

• Prune fruit trees now. Remove any diseased or damaged limbs. Thin the canopy of the tree to improve air circulation.

• After pruning your fruit trees, spray with a dormant oil to control some insect pests. Spray when temperatures are above 45 degrees and will remain above freezing for a couple of days.

• Cut back your liriope. The easiest way to accomplish this is to mow the liriope with a lawnmower.

• You can lightly prune boxwoods during late February.

• If you have not pruned your butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), do so during February. It only blooms on new growth; pruning during the winter encourages new growth in spring.

• Check your trees for damaged/broken limbs. Remove if damaged or broken.

• Check your houseplants for insects. After a few months inside a heated house, insects such as mites, scale, and mealybugs are multiplying rapidly. Use insecticidal soap to control these insects.

• When purchasing bare root plants, unwrap the roots and soak the plants in water for up to 12 hours before planting. Also, cut off any broken roots or stems before planting.

• Start broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plants inside your home for planting outside later.

• This is a good month to take advantage of a warm day and prepare planting beds. Make sure the soil is dry before working it and add compost/organic matter into the soil.

• To cheer up the inside of your home, cut branches of forsythia, spirea, or quince to bring inside and force blooms. Place branches in warm water after making angled cuts. Be sure to change the water every couple of days.

Visit the following web sites for more gardening information and helpful tips:

Urban Horticulture, NCSU
Extension's Successful Gardener^sm

For informaton concerning this or other publications please contact Emily Revels, Extension Agent, Horticulture, at (910) 321-6870.

Created by Susan Johnson, System Administrator, May 2005