While freezes are still possible this month, Valentine’s Day marks the start of spring gardening in Central Texas. And, Bee Cave Bob, an armadillo who is adept at meteorology, predicted an early spring for us.
So, what should you be doing to get your garden in shape? We’ve got you:
🍅 Get Your Vegetables Going.
February is the time to ready your tomato cages before tomato planting season starts in March. You still have time to plant sugar snap peas, snow peas, and English peas, but get them in the ground soon, because they need up to two months to start producing before it gets really warm, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Travis County says. Hurry up and plant your onions, too, and make sure to fertilize them after three to four weeks.
🌿 Fertilizing Rules Rule.
First off, don’t fertilize your lawn until April, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says. But, you can treat your lawn with a labeled fungicide at the end of the month if it has brown patch problems. In your vegetable garden, use liquid fertilizer on leafy greens, onions, and brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) if needed.
Wait until March to start a fertilizing routine on your indoor plants. If a plant has new leaf growth, you can use a diluted liquid fertilizer on it.
💧 Watering Frequency Can Change During February.
Keep an eye on the weather – if freezing temperatures return to the Austin area, you’ll need to water everything you have outside beforehand, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says. Inside, plants tend to dry out during winter because we use the heat. To keep your plants happy until the air conditioning comes back on, monitor their moisture levels by feeling how dry their soil is and water accordingly.
✂️ You’ll Need To Do Some Pruning.
Check your indoor plants for dead or dying stems and leaves and remove them this month.
Outside, you’ll need to prune your roses, summer shrubs that have bloomed, and fruit trees after their buds break. Cut back your perennial flowers and grasses to two to four inches above the ground. Cut your grass to six to 10 inches above the ground, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says.
🍂 Pro tip: Collect leaves to use as mulch or for your compost pile!
