10 Things to Do in the Garden in February

10 Things to Do in the Garden in February

1. Check your irrigation system for leaks and replace any broken spray heads. Make sure your sprinklers are watering your plants and not your sidewalks or driveways. Get some additional tips in the “Water Works” guide on page 60.

2. Give your garden a general cleanup. Sweep up any leaves, fallen branches or other yard debris, and pull up old annuals that are withering or dead.

3. Dig up perennials, divide them and replant.

4. Repair landscape structures. Now is a great time to repaint fences, gates, doors and sheds. Get rid of mold, mildew and dirt with mild soap and water.

5. Prune frost-damage from affected plants as soon as the danger of frost has passed in your area of the county. 

6. Start seeds for summer vegetables and herbs. Think tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and basil.

7. Take a look at your container plants to see which containers may need refreshing and cleaning.

8. Replace underperforming plants with different varieties that are more vigorous and disease-resistant.

9. Start feeding deciduous fruit trees with granular organic fertilizers.

10. Pull weeds before they set seed and pop up everywhere.

Where you may find me this month

From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Feb. 2nd and 9th, the Holistic Orchard Care course introduces students to fruit-tree selection, planting and care for backyard fruit trees or a small-scale orchard. The course includes content about desirable varieties, hands-on pruning and training methods and details on pest management. The emphasis is on organic production methods and is intended for students interested in organic agricultural production, edible landscaping, agroecological education and sustainable plant husbandry. It takes place at the Wild Willow Farm & Education Center, 2550 Sunset Ave. 

I hope you don’t miss the 7th annual 5K Paw Walk in the Garden, which benefits San Diego Botanic Garden & Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Participants will follow a 5K walk through the 37-acre garden with their dog(s) in tow from 9 a.m. until noon on
Feb. 16th. For the scoop, visit sdbgarden.org/pawwalk.htm.

And I’m looking forward to natural medicine expert Dr. Shannyn Fowl’s talk on the first aid options we can find in herbs and natural materials. I can’t wait to discover the many healing powers found in nature at this lecture that takes place Feb. 23 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at The Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West. For more information, visit thegarden.org/events/natural-first-aid-kit.

What’s Inspiring Me Right Now

I’m following…

@mrazfamilyfarms.
You know Jason Mraz’ music, but his passion for farming is even cooler (if that’s possible). Follow and learn from this talented crooner’s family farm to gather some incredible inspiration.

@cosmic_apple_gardens
is also one of my favorite feeds right now. Cosmic Apple Gardens’ photos and videos give you real-life lessons of the hard work that goes into farming and the delicious fruits of its labor.

I’m reading… 101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-friendly Solutions to Improve Any Garden to get more garden hacks and see how author Shawna Coronado transforms an ordinary garden into something extraordinary.