Ten garden activities for February

It’s About Thyme
by Chris Winslow

1. Plant fruit trees.
Peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, pomegranates… and apples and apricots too. These all do well in this area. For those with limited space, or with an appetite for novelty, try a ‘four-in-one’ grafted apple or pear. These have four different varieties grafted onto the same tree. If you don’t have a yard, try a dwarf peach… easily grown in a pot or whisky barrel.

2. Plant vegetables in kitchen garden.
Asparagus crowns, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, Swiss chard, pod peas (sugar snaps) and lettuce. Also onions, such as the white Texas supersweet called Contessa. Remember that having a productive kitchen garden can transform a person’s health.

3. Plant winter-hardy herbs.
Thyme, oregano, Italian and curled parsley, rosemary, winter and summer savory, garden sage and chives. Herbs need at least a half a day’s sun in a well-drained location.
4. Plant flowers in the garden.
Calendula, pansies, stock, cyclamen, violas, dianthus, bluebonnets, nasturtium, flowering cabbage and kale, and larkspur. For a great show, plant snapdragons now for April and May color.

5. Plant a rose.
Besides some good old standbys like Peace, Mr. Lincoln, Climbing Don Juan and Blasé, there are some interesting newcomers to look for, such as the Knock Out series, Home Run and Belinda’s Dream. Let’s not forget our charming antique roses which are disease-resistant, hardy, and can shower our landscapes with the most beautiful, showy flowers.

6. Prune your roses.
This is an activity for mid-month… around Valentine’s Day. Please proceed with caution. Be sure you know what kind of rose you have. Most shrub roses bloom on new wood, so a pruning will help to force new growth and blooms. Climbing roses, however, bloom on old wood. If you prune them, you will remove all the flowers before they have a chance to bloom. If in doubt, please give me a call at the nursery for some advice.

7. Clean up the landscape.
Cut back perennials and apply a  mulch-compost blend. Add green sand and sulfur to plants that prefer their soil to be a little more acidic. Check leaves for signs of iron deficiency. Light green leaves with darker veins indicate a lack of iron that green sand and sulfur will help to cure.

8. Control lawn weeds.
Spread a pre-emergent weed killer over the yard and water it in. We recommend corn gluten. This is an effective organic pre-emergent that will not poison waterways and aquifers. If you spread it over the lawn, it will control those spring and summer weeds before they have a chance to germinate. You can safely use it in the garden or in flowerbeds.

9. Maintain garden tools.
Repair and clean garden tools. Change the oil on the lawnmower, and have the blades sharpened.

10. Make a Garden plan.
Put something down in a book, a diary, or even on a scrap of paper that you tape to the wall. The more modern gardener can even create some sort of a spreadsheet. This will help you plan your weekend activities and get your plants in the ground at the correct time of the year.

Happy Gardening, Everyone!

If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to iathyme@yahoo.com. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748. www.itsaboutthyme.com