Rohde’s February Organic Gardening Calendar
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday March 14, 2010, 2:00 am.
Average Date of Last Spring Frost: March 15th, 2010.
First day of Spring (Spring Equinox): March 20, 2010; 12:32 pm CDT (Central Daylight Time).
We are in USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 8a with an annual minimum temperature of 15 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and in Texas AgriLife Extension District 4 (East Region) - North (Dallas).
The main gardening jobs you must do this month is to finish pruning and to fertilize your lawn and landscape.
February is the start of the planting season for the new year.
Many trees, bushes, and other plants will start to show signs of life with new growth as they come out of winter dormancy.
You need to pick out and start planting your seeds and transplants either indoors or outdoors as is appropriate. Come by Rohde’s for your plants and seeds that have been chosen for success in our black clay and zone 8b weather conditions.
It’s time for the FIRST MAJOR FERTILIZATION OF THE YEAR, Then every three months, for the rest of the year.
Here’s an excerpt from an article I just read, “Pecan Fertilization Facts” by Charles Rohla, from the Samual Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore Oklahoma in their monthly “Ag News and Views”):
New research conducted by Dr. Mike Smith at Oklahoma State University suggests that nitrogen applied during the current year is used by trees for the following year's crop. Research indicates that nitrogen storage in plant tissues is the primary source of nitrogen used during initial spring growth in pecans (Smith, et al., 2007). Acuna-Maldonado (2003) indicated that nitrogen absorption rapidly increases when stored nitrogen pools are nearly depleted. This means nitrogen demand is greatest when nitrogen stores are being replenished and this normally occurs in the early spring during periods of rapid growth and leaf expansion. In fact, researchers estimate applied nitrogen uptake in trees ranges between 12 and 27 percent (Kraimer et al., 2001, 2004; Rey et al., 2006; Smith et al., 2007). It has also been reported that applied nitrogen is mainly transported to stored nitrogen pools which will be used during the next growing season. The combination of these studies suggests that for trees to maintain a balanced nutrient level, the best time to fertilize is before bud break (late February to early March).
If you extend the possibility that Pecan trees aren’t the only plants doing this, that may be most perennial trees, bushes, bulbs, corms, or anything that go dormant over the winter may do this. This makes fertilizing timing of some importance to the maximum benefit of the plants. The best time to fertilize appears to be from bud break to leafing out with time given to the breaking down of the slow release organic fertilizers you are using. February is when plants usually start breaking dormancy here in zone 8b and bud out. So fertilize now. This is your plants most important fertilizing and GreenSense All Purpose Lawn & Garden Fertilizer is your best choice. It’s a complete, organic, slow release, palletized fertilizer for convenient use in your fertilizer spreader.
Vegetables
Main crops to plant this month are cool-season vegetables.
Transplants
Asparagus crowns, Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Irish seed potato pieces, Kohlrabi, Onion transplants for bulbs or scallions this year
Plant strawberry plants for next years spring harvest. Remove flowers for this year to favor growth.
Seeds or Transplants
Beets, Chinese cabbage, Carrots, Swiss chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce , Mustard, Onion, Parsley, English peas, Edible Podded Peas, Radish, Rutabaga, Spinach and Turnip
Fertilize your seed starts with Rohde’s Foliar Juice. This product contains Manure tea, fish solubles, kelp extract, molasses, and magnesium sulfate (epsom salts). Everything a growing young plant needs in a quickly usable form. Add Green Sense Worm Castings to the soil
Protect cold tender flowers and vegetables with frost cloth during freezes.
Water and Mulch if needed.
Don’t plant summer vegetables yet. The soil won’t be warm enough this month. Start seeds indoors to get quicker production.
Herbs
Start seeds indoor for planting after chance of freeze have past or the soil has warmed sufficiently.
Plant cold hardy herbs; Chervil, Chives, Cilantro, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, lavender, rue, dill, and fennel. Dill and fennel may be less cold hardy. Cover them during freezes.
Flowers
What to Plant?
Annuals
Plant cool-season flowers, such as, dianthus, English daisies, geraniums, hollyhocks, Iceland poppies, larkspur, kale, nasturtium, pansies, petunias, primroses, snapdragons, and other cool season annuals.
Perennials
All Perennials can be transplanted anytime. Fall is the best time, winter is next best. You want them established by spring.
Now is when the best selection of container grown roses will be. Shrub Roses are pruned in mid-February, think St Valentines day. Spring-only blooming roses are cut back after spring flowering. Climbing Roses are pruned after they bloom too. Remove old stalks all the way to the ground.
Seeds
Towards the end of the month, start seeds for transplants of Marigolds, Periwinkles, Petunias, Alyssum and other spring & summer blooming annuals to be planted outdoors later.
Fertilize
Just like with your veggie starts fertilize your seed starts with Rohde’s Foliar Juice. This product contains Manure tea, fish solubles, kelp extract, molasses, and magnesium sulfate (epsom salts). Everything a growing young plant needs in a quickly usable form. Add Green Sense Worm Castings to the soil
Other Jobs
Divide summer- and fall-flowering perennials if needed, while they are still dormant.
Protect cold tender flowers with frost cloth during freezes.
Water and Mulch if needed.
Ornamental Grasses
You can plant Ornamental Grasses now as well as any perennial plant. Rohde’s carries a large selection of varieties that do well here.
Grasses are susceptible to crown rot, especially in winter. Most like well-drained soils and sun. Cut back grasses to short clumps in early spring.
You can divide clumps every three years or so as some will do better. Do this now, if needed, while they are still dormant.
Bulbs
Plant gladiolus corms every two weeks through February and March for a succession of flowers.
Also plant Cannas and daylilies now.
Trees, Shrubs & Vines
Planting
Any horticultural perennial plant/tree, shrub, vines, can be planted now. If they are balled and burlapped, best to do it early this month before they come out of dormancy.
Finish transplanting of trees and shrubs early this month, while they are still dormant. Some may start growing this month. Plant fruit and nut trees, grape vines, and berry vines.
Pruning
Do any pruning early this month before the plants come out of winter dormancy. Plants may start budding and sprouting new leaves starting this month.
Don't prune early-winter or spring blooming trees or bushes like Indian hawthorn, mountain laurel, flowering peach, ornamental cherry, climbing roses, althea, etc. Wait until after they bloom.
Prune summer-flowering trees, shrubs and vines, if needed.
Crape myrtles can be pruned to remove the seed heads, but is a waste of time to the tree. Pruning winter die-back won’t hurt, but don’t "top" the branches, or cut them back trying to control height or to encourage branching, as this will hurt.
Try to prune bushes by removing taller branches, instead of shearing the plant. Nandinas can be pruned this way by removing taller canes at the ground.
Fruit trees need specific pruning to encourage strong limbs and control the amount of fruit and where the fruit grows on each limb. Consult one of the books we carry on growing fruit and nut trees.
Prune to remove dead, damaged, rubbing, bothersome, or dangerous branches.
Leave lower branches on newly planted trees for a few years to help the tree grow.
Remove mistletoe from infested trees.
You must finish pruning Oak trees that are susceptible to Oak Decline disease now before they bud out. This disease is carried by infected Sap Beetles that will come to the sap oozing out of fresh saw wounds. If the tree is still dormant, there will be less sap. There are fewer Sap Beetles around while it’s cold also. It is very important to apply Rohde’s Green Sense Tree Goop to the wounds immediately after pruning (the bugs are watching and waiting for you to turn your back on the cut), and to insure it stays on for two days till the wound’s sap hardens. Green Sense Tree Goop is a powder you mix with water to a paste. It contains rock phosphate and dairy manure for nutrients to help the wound heal quicker, and Diatomaceous Earth to help keep insects away from the wound.
Fertilize
It’s time for the FIRST MAJOR FERTILIZATION OF THE YEAR. Green Sense All Purpose Lawn & Garden Fertilizer is a perfect choice.
Other Jobs
Start spray program for fruit and nut trees.
Lawn, Turf Grasses & Ground Covers
Plant
Plant groundcover now, but don’t plant it right up against trees to keep the root flare exposed.
Wait another month or two for the ground to warm for seeding and sodding.
Fertilize
It’s time for the FIRST MAJOR FERTILIZATION OF THE YEAR. Green Sense All Purpose Lawn & Garden Fertilizer is a perfect choice.
You can also apply dry molasses and Green Sense Humate to jump start the life in your soil, and get your lawn going a little faster.Spread 1/2 inch layer of compost to poorly growing parts of the lawn.
Watering, Mowing, Trimming
If you already have cool-season weeds established, corn gluten meal will not have an effect on them, but mowing, before they bloom and drop seeds, will help eliminate many of them, particularly as it warms up. So mowing every couple of weeks may be needed even now.
Trim or mow groundcover beds before spring growth begins. This will even them up and clean them up. Remove dead and damaged parts or plants and replace.
Pests, Disease, & Weeds
For pre-emergent weed control, apply corn gluten meal at 20 pounds per 1000 square feet Don’t use if you are going to seed for bermuda in the spring. It may still be effective and prevent some of your bermuda seed from germinating.
It’s may be too cold for Green Sense 8% Vinegar to work it’s best on weeds, but used on a warm day, with citrus oil and soap, it will still be effective, and with pulling and mowing can control them until the lawn comes in.
Watch out for lawn fungal problems with the wet weather we are having. We are still in an El Niño weather pattern with a cooler and wetter spring forecast. Ideal for lawn fungus. Consider a preventive program with Rohde’s aerating your lawn and treating it with corn meal and or Actinovate. Actinovate is an organic bacteria (Streptomyces lydicus strain WYEC 108) that protects lawn roots from a wide range of soil borne diseases and root decay fungi. Along with a soil test and proper fertilizing, this will give you the best control over lawn fungus problems. Remember, you will have the fungus infection long before you see it, and it will more difficult to control.
General Pests & Diseases
Now’s the time to use Dormant Oil on plants that are susceptible to scale, aphids, spider mites, and other small, stationary or slow moving pests insects. It also works on insect eggs, and on powdery mildew when combined with Green Sense Potassium Bicarbonate. Best time is right before the buds break dormancy, which may happen toward the end of this month. Use on hollies, euonymus, camellias, photinias, roses and on bark of shade and fruit trees. Spider mites can attack conifers, junipers, arborvitae, cypress earlier than other plants. There will be brown, thinned interior needles. Some Junipers, roses, and other trees and bushes may be sensitive to Dormant Oils. Read the label and apply correctly.
Green lacewings can help control of aphids, spider mites, thrips, caterpillars and other bugs.
Use beneficial nematodes to help control grub worms, fleas, fire ants, chiggers and other pests. Grub problems are not as common as once thought. Many grubs just feed on dead organic matter rather than plant roots. Some become predatory beetles. Lawn damage may be more likely caused by fungi than by grubs.
It’s time to start a Fruit and Pecan Tree treatment program.
Other Things to Do this Month
Last “best time” to have Rohde’s help you design and install your landscape before the lawn and landscape blooms. Don’t wait until the first 70 degree day, like EVERYBODY else does!!!!
Prepare your old beds and make new ones now, before it’s time to fill them later this month.
Clean up the yard of leftover leaves and fallen branch, acorns, etc.
Add mulch and/or compost to bare or thin ground.
Check out, repair and perform maintenance on lawn equipment and tools.
Clean out and repair any bird houses, baths, and feeders. Clean bird houses with soap and water, inside and out. Scrap out gunk with a putty knife. Wear a mask to not inhale nesting material that might have pests in it. Soak in 10% bleach solution for 20 minutes. Rinse out three times at least and let dry completely. Any remaining bleach will evaporate. Repaint or stain with acrylic products that are labeled as being safe for babies to chew on. Caulk if needed with aquarian safe silicone. Titebond III is one of the strongest wood glues, is waterproof and does pretty good at gap filling. Check hardware for proper attachment
Have landscape and garden soil tested now to know how to prepare your gardens and lawns for the spring. Rohde’s recommends “Texas Plant & Soil Lab” at 5115 West Monte Cristo Road, Edinburg, Texas 78541-8852, 956-383-0739. They can give you organic recommendations.
Most of this calendar is designed for Dallas, Tx in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a, with a predominant soil type of blackland prairie clay.