Plants in Flower:

Japonica Camellia, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), Breath-of-Spring (winter honeysuckle), Daphne Odora, January Jasmine, Lenten-Rose (Helleborus), Trailing Arbutus, Crocus and Violets

What to Fertilize:

--Fertilize emerging spring flowering bulbs.
--Continue to spread wood ashes in areas like flowering bulb beds and vegetable gardens.

What to Plant:

--Start broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower plants inside your home the first week of February.
--Plant the following vegetables: English peas,onions, Irish potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, turnips and carrots
--Plant asparagus crowns in late February when soil is dry enough to work.

What to Prune:

--Prune all your fruit trees (apple, cherry, nectarine, peach, pear and plum) in February.
--Prune your muscadine and bunch grape vines this month.
--Trim ornamental grasses like liriope, mondo grass and pampas grass.
--Cut back any overgrown broadleaf shrubs now. Severe pruning should be done this month.
--All summer flowering plants like crapemyrtle, rose-of-sharon, eleagnus and butterfly bush should be pruned in February.
--Prune camellias after they finish flowering.
--For best results, prune mountain laurel in late February before bud break. Cut back only leggy plants only, since trimming now will remove this spring's flower buds.

Pest Outlook:

--Peach and nectarine trees may need to be treated with a fungicide to prevent peach leaf curl.
--After pruning, spray all fruit trees with dormant oil to help eliminate some insect pests. Spray when temperature is above 45 degrees and will remain above freezing for 24 hours.
--The North Carolina Extension Service recommends that you use pesticides sparingly and only when needed.

Lawn Care:

--Cool season lawns like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass should be fertilized in February. Follow your soil test recommendations for best results.
--If needed, apply a herbicide for lawn weeds such as chickweed, henbit, or wild onions.

Propagation:

--Divide perennials like daylily, shasta daisy, gaillardia, and peony when the ground is dry enough.
--Hardwood cuttings of many landscape plants like crapemyrtle, flowering quince, forsythia, hydrangea, juniper, spiraea and weigela can be taken this month.

Specific Chores:

--Support the state's floriculture industry. Order flowers for your sweetheart-Valentine's Day!
--Develop both a vegetable and landscape plan for your home grounds.
--Locate the area's public gardens and make plans to visit them later this spring.
--Check with local garden centers and hardware stores to see if your garden seed orders can be filled. If not, you will need to order the specific varieties you want.
--Contact your local County Extension Agent for any additional gardening information.