February is already here! Spring will be here in 5-6 weeks. It’s been a difficult winter; each day is different. We never know what to expect on Tuesdays (our work day). Many times we have had to cancel the work day.

If your garden spot is ready for planting, transplant broccoli, cabbage, collards, and kohlrabi. Seed lettuce, beets, English peas, radishes, spinach, turnips, and Swiss chard. Transplant balled and burlapped fruit trees, evergreen shrubs, roses and vines while dormant.

Maybe this is the year you want to redo your landscape or start a new landscape from scratch. To begin, consider Xeriscape. Many conjure images of rock and cactus, which is wrong. Xeriscape can be very attractive, with green areas and colorful plants, native and adapted. It’s very helpful to have an experienced nursery person to help. Xeriscape means: good planning, practical lawn areas, efficient irrigation, soil improvement, use of mulch, low water demand plants, and good maintenance.

Tip: When planting, add a household sponge or a clay saucer under the soil in the bottom of the basket or pot. It will act as a reservoir and get you through the hottest days without wilting. Turn all pots or baskets 90 degrees every few days. This will help to keep plants growing and blooming evenly.

It’s time to prune your roses, except the early bloomers. This includes all early blooming plants, such as bridal veil, azaleas, Indian hawthorne, altheas, mountain laurel, and flowering quince. Trim tall ornamental grasses and perennials, like Russian sage (leucanthaus) and artemisa, about 6 inches from the ground.

Water during winter drought. Freeze damage is more severe on drought-stressed plants and lawns. Deeply water established trees once a month.

If you have scale on hollies, fruit trees, pecans, or pine trees, wait until the temperature is above freezing for 48 hours before spraying.