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February Garden Checklist – Prepping for Spring Growth

February 2, 2025

February is the bridge between winter and spring, making it a crucial month for preparing garden beds, pruning, and starting seeds. While some regions may still be in a deep freeze, others are beginning to show signs of life.

Soil & Bed Preparation

  • Begin hardening off garden beds by removing winter mulch from areas that will be planted soon.
  • Top-dress perennials with compost to give them a nutrient boost before spring growth.
  • Cover bare soil with a light mulch layer to prevent erosion and early weed growth.

Master Gardener Tip – Test Your Seeds – Before sowing, do a quick germination test to check viability. Place a few seeds on a damp paper towel, keep them warm, and check after a few days. Better to know now than waste valuable garden space on non-viable seeds!

Master Gardener Steve

Early Spring Planting (by Region)

  • Mild Climates (Zones 8-10):
    • Direct sow hardy crops like carrots, beets, radishes, and leafy greens.
    • Plant seed potatoes and onion sets.
  • Cool Climates (Zones 6-7):
    • Begin sowing cold-hardy vegetables under row covers or low tunnels.
    • Start planting bare-root fruit trees and shrubs if the ground is workable.
  • Cold Climates (Zones 4-5):
    • Start forcing bulbs indoors for early spring blooms.
    • Begin indoor seed-starting for hardy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and onions.

Pruning & Tree Care

  • Trim back wisteria and summer-flowering clematis to promote strong blooms.
  • Remove water sprouts and suckers from fruit trees and ornamental trees.
  • Prune dormant brambles like raspberries and blackberries to shape and encourage new growth.
  • Cut back winter-damaged branches from shrubs once extreme cold has passed.

Perennial & Flower Garden Tasks

  • Divide crowded perennials like daylilies and hostas before new growth starts.
  • Check on overwintering bulbs and remove any that show signs of rot.
  • Plant bare-root roses in milder regions.
  • Prepare new flower beds by turning over soil and adding organic matter.

Wildlife & Pollinator Support

  • Plant early bloomers like crocus and hellebores to provide nectar for emerging pollinators.
  • Clean and refill birdbaths as temperatures rise to help birds and beneficial insects.
  • Install mason bee houses if you want to attract native pollinators.

Pest & Disease Prevention

  • Inspect overwintering plants for signs of pests like aphids or scale insects.
  • Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees and roses to prevent overwintering pests.
  • Turn over garden beds where pests may be overwintering in the soil to expose them to predators.

Final Preparations Before Spring

  • Check seed-starting progress and transplant seedlings into larger containers if needed.
  • Set up trellises and supports for vining crops before they start growing.
  • Get your watering system ready by testing hoses, drip irrigation, or rain barrels.
  • Make a March planting calendar based on local frost dates and upcoming tasks.

February is all about fine-tuning the garden for a strong start to springβ€”stay ahead of the game, and your garden will thrive in the months ahead! 🌱


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