February Gardening To-Do List

The weather outside is frightful, but garden maintenance and planning can keep you busy. See what HGTV.com contributors are up to in their gardens.

February 01, 2021

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Planting Sweet Pea

Toward the end of the month, Atlanta-based writer Lynn Coulter plants her sweet pea seeds. "I’m eager to try a variety called ‘Windowbox Heirloom Cupid’ that’s recommended for window boxes and containers," she says.

Spring Cleaning for Bluebirds

Lynn also cleans out her bluebird boxes and tightens up any screws that are getting loose. "Squirrels have been gnawing at the entrance hole of one box, so I’ll buy a metal ring to put around the hole to deter them," she says.

Bee Alert

Massachusetts beekeeper Melissa Caughey keeps an eye on her hives. "On warmer days, I will watch the beehives for bees taking cleansing flights," she explains.

Tend Indoor Gardens

Melissa also takes time in February to care for her houseplants: "I will tend to the houseplants and inspect for pests and need for re-potting."

Also See: 21 Forgiving Houseplants

Protect Plants

Maryland-based writer Julie Martens saves her prized landscape plants from marauders. "Between snows, I check and replace netting over Lenten roses and heuchera," she says. "If I leave them uncovered, deer and rabbits eat them to the ground."

Also See: How to Keep Rabbits Out of Your Garden Without Harming Them

Storing Garlic

Julie also checks on her garlic stash: "A few garlic bulbs are sprouting. I peel unsprouted cloves and toss them with oil to prevent freezer burn and freeze. This year I’m also going to try freezing garlic cubes — 1 part chopped garlic to 2 parts oil is the ratio the USDA recommends."

Also See: Can You Freeze Garlic Cloves?

Buy Hyacinths

Julie does a little smart shopping. "I snap up small 4-inch pots of forced hyacinths when they’re on sale at the supermarket," she says. "I enjoy the fragrance in my home and move them outside once spring arrives. After the leaves die back in midsummer, I store the bulbs (still in their pots) for fall planting."

Stock Feeders

"I stock the birdfeeders regularly," Julie says. "The suet feeder especially sees heavy action at this point in winter."

Heated Bird Bath

It's all about the birds for Julie: "Keeping the bird bath clean and full is also a key chore this month."

Insulate Roses

Julie has a smart trick for protecting roses in cold weather: "When shoveling snow, I toss salt-free shovels-full of snow around the roses to help insulate the plants."

Cut Back Grass

Atlanta Botanical Garden marketing manager Danny Flanders focuses on grasses this time of year. "Cut back perennial ornamental grasses to about six inches above ground," he says. "Cut back liriope and mondo grass."

From: Barry Block

Fertilize Trees and Shrubs

Very late in the month, Danny says he starts to fertilize trees and shrubs before they wake up for spring. He also recommends fertilizing fescue lawns.

Plant Spring Vegetables

It's almost veggie time, too. "Begin planting sweet peas and spring vegetables unless you live in a cold climate," Danny says.

Also See: How to Plan a Vegetable Garden

Prune Shrub Roses

Many flowering shrubs, including hydrangeas, should be pruned in late winter. "I'll be pruning shrub roses," Danny says.

Also See: Pruning Roses During Winter

Winter Hellebores

Mississippi garden writer Felder Rushing cleans up his Christmas and Lenten roses in February. "My hellebores are beginning to bloom in spite of the frosts and freezes," he says. "I usually cut back the old foliage, especially the tattered bits, so the flowers — which typically hang downward — are easier to enjoy."

See More Photos: Hellebores Are Made for Shade

Moss Reveal

"Decomposing fallen leaves feed moss over the winter," says Felder, "but I rake them in mid-winter to reveal a welcome emerald green carpet."

Protect Camellias

Felder also tends his camellia shrubs: "There are those that bloom in winter, including Camellia japonica. Time to spray undersides of leaves with dormant oil to reduce tea scale infestations for the rest of the year."

Also See: Favorite Camellia Varieties Plus Expert Planting and Growing Advice

Tend Sempervivum

"Hen and chicks sempervivum, along with sedums, are among the most cold-hardy succulents in my winter garden," says Felder. "I carefully remove any mushy stems and leaves to better enjoy the small textured plants."

Also See: Hen and Chicks: All About These Popular Succulents

Fence Repairs

Atlanta-based editor Felicia Feaster is looking at hardscape help. "Now that my view of the fence and gate is unobscured by plants and flowers, I can see where repairs are needed," she says. "I will be nailing loose pickets into place and fixing the latch on the gate."

Also See: How to Fix a Fence Post That Is Leaning

Painting the Porch

"My front porch has shown some wear and tear so I plan to repaint the porch floor—a dark color to hide imperfections—and also the ceiling," Felicia says. "It's the first thing—besides the picket fence—people see when they visit my home so I want it to look great."

From: Kristi Nelson

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Photo By: Photo courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Photo By: Image courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited, www.wbu.com

Photo By: iStock/ patnowa

Photo By: SkagitGardens.com

Photo By: Photo by Julie Martens Forney

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Photo By: Photo by Felder Rushing

Photo By: Atlanta Botanical Garden

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