Gardening Tips
Master Gardeners are busy preparing for the annual plant sale in late April. They are digging and potting trees, potting flowers from their yards, and planting seeds of annual flowers and veggies.
The wise gardener listens closely to the long-range weather reports in February. Here in the Delta, temperature and precipitation can mess-up the plans of the most experienced gardener. Don’t be caught off guard; winter is far from over!
Between the middle of February (Valentine’s Day) until the middle of March is the best time to transplant, prune, till the soil, fertilize, and plant an early veggie and flower garden.
• Transplanting: Deciduous shrubs and trees are still dormant enough to transplant. Azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, burning bushes, barberry bushes, and many others are easy to move if they are not large.
• Pruning: This should be done only to improve the shape of the plant, to open up the center of the plant so air can circulate, and to let in sun. Always start pruning by removing all dead, decayed, or broken branches. Bush roses do not have to be severely trimmed each year. Instead, a good shaping is best. Climbing roses should be thinned out to remove last year’s tangled growth. Crape myrtle trees are “murdered” all over town leaving ugly knots from this mistreatment. The correct way to prune is to trim the limbs that are growing inward and crossing more established branches. The old flower seeds from last summer do not have to be cut off. They can be left for birds who love to eat them. Crape Myrtles are trees, not bushes, and should be allowed to grow tall. Ornamental grasses, pampas, and monkey grass should have a good “hair cut” to the ground in order to have a beautiful appearance for the coming year.
• Tilling: The soil should be tilled to prepare the area for a new garden whenever it is warm enough. This will help by letting air into the soil and will kill roots of grass/weeds. Adding compost and fertilizer at this time will help to ensure success all year long. This is the time to get the soil tested. Pick up small soil testing boxes at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Office at the Courthouse and place a spoon full of soil in each box from places in the garden (one spoonful sample per box) and return the filled boxes to the Courthouse. They will send it to be tested and will let you know what fertilizer you need. (Arkansas is one of the few states that offers this service for free.)
• Fertilizing: All trees need to be fertilized, and an easy way is to punch holes in the soil 1/2 inch deep and two feet apart around the drip line and fill with fertilizer then water and mulch. Make sure the tree has breathing room at the base of the trunk and mulch doesn’t choke it.
• If you are an eager gardener who likes early blooms and veggies, this month is the time to buy seed because the nurseries do not have the plants in stock. All you need is potting soil and a bright warm place to plant. When planting inside, take time each day to check the soil moisture. Seeds need a warm moist place to germinate.
• Questions: Have you checked your gardening tools? Have you started your lawn mower and checked the blade? Have you turned the compost pile or started one? Have you sprayed the crabgrass on your lawn with a pre-emergent herbicide? February is the month. Do you have questions about any area of gardening?
Call the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service office at the St. Francis Courthouse 870-261-1730 for any questions you may have on gardening.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Information for Gardening Tips is gleaned from gardening guides for planting zones 7 & 8.)