Finish transplanting and dividing work by the first week of the month Cut back peony and hosta, plants that don’t “die well” and may transmit fungal diseases Leave perennial seed heads if you enjoy bird activity during winter – otherwise cut back now Leave hydrangea, tree peony, foxglove, hellebore, ornamental grasses, tall sedums, roses, perennial…
Get out and enjoy all the bloom in your garden Finish editing any spreading perennials Keep up with weeding, especially weeds with seedheads Finish mulching beds, or ideally plant spreading groundcover or short perennials to reduce quantity of mulch needed Finish planting by month’s end when the hot weather begins Deadhead peony, iris, roses, and…
Fertilize cutback shrubs (hydrangeas, butterfly bush, smoke tree, etc) with a slow-release organic fertilizer to jump-start growth and later bloom Stake peonies early Scratch in Pro Holly around broadleaf evergreens that are young or have off-color after winter Fertilize blueberries and raspberries to encourage fruit production Divide fall blooming perennials Transplant perennials before they get…
Cut back standing ornamental grasses, perennials, and clean up excess leaves in beds Leave perennials standing until three 50 degree days in a row have passed to allow overwintering pollinators to disperse (NOTE: we’ve had these three days already) Experiment with leaving hollow-stemmed perennial stalks 12”-15” to encourage use by native bees for nesting; a daub…
Return your Fine Garden Maintenance or Plant Health Care contract by March 1 Schedule a virtual meeting to ask questions and discuss details, phw@pumpkinbrookorganicgardening.com Place orders for seeds and bareroot stock (see article above) Start seeds of onions, leeks, and pansies indoors Sow some native seeds outdoors in containers — there’s still time (see article above)…
Take inventory of seed packets on hand and place orders for new varieties Clean, sharpen and repair garden tools Order replacement tools if needed Stock up on Safe Paw ice melt: non-corrosive, chloride-free, and safe for plants, animals, and humans Force some bulbs on water: hyacinth or paperwhites Water house plants only every 4-5 days and withhold…
Finish planting bareroot stock such as roses, raspberries, asparagus, and fruit trees Keep transplanting and dividing late summer and fall-blooming perennials Plant containers with frost-resistant varieties Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials Finish pruning and fertilizing roses Prune hydrangeas and scratch in an acid-loving fertilizer to promote bloom Topdress winter damaged broad-leaved evergreens with compost and…
Remove winter greens from containers, once unfrozen Rake out beds, trim brown stalks, assess winter damage and prune out Prune shrubs such as inkberry, holly, yew that may be overgrown Prune butterfly bush, caryopteris, smoke tree, St. Johnswort, and other cutback shrubs Shear ornamental grasses Shape lavender, sage, germander, thyme and other woody herbs by…
Watch for emerging color on witch hazel buds which can bloom in late winter, even with snow on the ground Maple sap will start to flow when days are above freezing and night temperatures dip below freezing Check yourself for ticks after time outdoors, as ticks are active whenever temperatures rise above 32 degrees Continue…
Take a winter walk for exercise and to broaden your perspective Check yourself for ticks after time outdoors if it’s above freezing, as ticks will be active in ALL seasons above 32 degrees Allow ice and snow to naturally melt from outdoor plants, as branches are brittle and will crack readily if handled now at…