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| Cascading container of white sweet alyssum. |
February in New Orleans for many is all about Mardi Gras, but for the gardeners among us it begins our transition from winter to spring. Although the possibility of severe freezes still exists in our area and we must remain ready to protect tender vegetation, we also begin to see the first signs of spring as the Japanese magnolias and early spring blubs begin to bloom in our landscape.
As Valentine's Day approaches, we are also reminded that it's prime planting time for roses. Plus any rose pruning chores should be completed in early February. It's still not too late to add some cool-season annuals. Consider using them in containers as our cover photo of a cascading white sweet alyssum illustrates.
Our to-do lists this month provide lots of helpful reminders for your flower and edible gardens. Plus, we share links to many timely articles published by LSU AgCenter experts on topics such as: preparing spring beds, pruning roses and citrus trees, preserving flowers, tackling winter lawn weed problems and much more. Also, don't miss our announcements about upcoming plant sales and special gardening events.
Happy Mardi Gras!
The Flower Garden | The Edible Garden | The Healthy Garden
Plant Sales | Favorite Field Trips | General Information
It’s time to:
- Plant Transplants: alyssum, annual phlox, candytuft, lobelia, pansy, petunia, snapdragon, stock and verbena.
- Plant foxglove, delphinium and hollyhock transplants through February. They'll bloom in April through early June.
- Plant Bulbs: gladiolus (at two-week intervals through early April); caladium tubers (can be started indoors in flats or 4” pots of sifted compost or potting soil in mid- to late-February). Caladiums should not be planted outdoors until April.
- Cut back ground covers in early to mid-February to remove unattractive foliage on liriope, monkey grass, ferns, wedelia, Japanese ardesia and Asiatic jasmine before new spring growth appears.
- Remove unattractive leaves on aspidistra and holly ferns by hand.
- Fertilize healthy trees (once every three years with 40 pounds of 8-8-8 per 1,000 square feet of canopy area or one to two pounds of 8-8-8 per inch of trunk diameter).
- Perennials in south La. may be fertilized in late February, including roses and ferns. However, only organic fertilizers should be used on most shrubs this month.
- Continue deadheading spent blooms on your cool-season annuals to encourage more vigorous blooming in late winter and early spring.
- Plant: roses, trees & hardy shrubs now through February.
- Prune: Repeat-blooming roses no later than early February. Examples include: hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, polyanthas, teas, Bourbons, noisettes, miniatures, hybrid Chinas and modern shrub roses. (Do not prune once-blooming roses that bloom on old growth, such as ramblers, some climbers and some old garden roses. Prune these roses as needed in early to midsummer soon after they finish blooming.)
Get It Growing: Prune Roses In Early February For Better Performance Later In Year. Most roses will benefit from some pruning now, and some types must be pruned to perform the way we want them to. Hybrid tea and grandiflora roses, in particular, should be pruned every year during the first or second week in February. [Dan Gill]
Prepare Beds Now For Spring Planting. Even though Louisiana gardeners can plant year-round, most gardeners get the gardening bug in the spring. Now is a great time to get beds prepared for spring planting. [Dan Gill video]
Preserve Blooms By Pressing Them. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill frequently talks about how to grow flowers, but this time he's talking about how to preserve some of those wonderful flowers you grow. [Dan Gill]
Get It Growing: Gardening With Perennials Can Be Challenging, Fun. When you finally reach the "been there, done that" stage with cycle of planting annuals, you might consider that perennials offer exciting challenges and great fun. [Dan Gill]
Now Is Time To Prune; But Don’t Abuse Crape Myrtles. Now is an appropriate time to prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs, but you should take care to make sure you do it right. Especially in the case of trees, pruning should generally be done to enhance their natural shape while correcting any problems. [Dan Gill]
Hanging Baskets Are Great Way To Display Plants. An attractive way to display plants is to grow them in hanging baskets. Hanging baskets are wonderful because they are positioned right at eye level where you really can appreciate the detail of the plant. [Dan Gill video]
Winter Temperatures Won't Bother Tropical-looking Plant. Acuba japonica is a tropical-looking plant that thrives in Louisiana’s climate and is not bothered by winter temperatures. It is commonly called acuba or gold dust plant because of the wonderful gold speckling on it. [Dan Gill video]
Pruning and Fertilizing Crape Myrtles. February is a good time to prune those crape myrtles; and, if you have been getting no blooms or poor quality of blooms, fertilizing just may be the answer. Use 8-8-8 or 13-13-13. [Henry Harrison]
It’s time to:
- Seed in coldframes, hotbeds or greenhouses: Eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes.
- Seed outdoors: beets, carrots, corn (late February), Swiss chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, rutabagas, snap beans (late February), spinach, parsley, radishes, shallots and turnips.
- Transplant or seed pieces: Irish potatoes (by February 15), broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, head lettuce and shallots.
- Fertilize fruit trees and bushes such as apple, blackberry, blueberry, peach, nectarine, citrus and fig.
February vegetable gardening tips from the LSU AgCenter:
Enjoy Swiss Chard In Vegetable Garden. Swiss chard is an outstanding leafy vegetable that is easy to grow. It tastes a little like spinach when it is cooked, but it is related to beets. You can direct-seed it into your garden right now. [Dan Gill audio]
Keep Your Vegetable Garden Active In February. Louisiana gardeners can continue to plant vegetables in their vegetable gardens during February. You can direct-seed root crops in your garden this time of the year. Cole crops also can be planted now, as well as some leafy vegetables. [Dan Gill audio]
Many Snap Beans Varieties Available For Spring Gardens. Snap beans are adapted to a wide range of soils in Louisiana and make an excellent crop for the home garden. Their freshness is a real treat at the dinner table. [Thomas Koske]
Lawn Weeds Remain Problem in Winter Months. Despite our chilly Louisiana winters and even the hard freezes we could have this time of year, cool-season weeds continue to grow in our lawns. There are a variety of weeds that you may find in your lawns this time of year. [Dan Gill video]
February Best Time To Prune Fruit Trees. February is the best time to prune most fruit trees in Louisiana. The coldest part of winter is usually over, and trees will soon be growing and can heal pruning injuries.
Our Cold Protection Tips page was updated last month with new cold-tolerance temps provided by Dan Gill. To view this new information including a list of commonly grown plants in our area with their new cold-tolerance temperature, click here.
A Simple Hand Spreader for Gardens. There are times when a simple hand spreader is the best tool for applying granular fertilizer or pesticides. A hand spreader has no moving parts and is inexpensive. It can be molded entirely from plastic. [Richard Parish]
Camellias in the Country
Feb. 10, 2007, 9 a.m.
Rosedown State Historic Site, St. Francisville, LA
The Feliciana Nature Society and Rosedown State Historic Site hold the third annual program, beginning with a Friday evening camellia showing, photography exhibit and reception. On Saturday, horticulturist Patricia Aleshire leads a workshop on camellia grafting, followed by lunch and a walking tour of Rosedown's historic gardens. $20 registration fee covers all events. Call (888) 376-1867 toll free or (225) 635-3110. Visit www.audubonbirdfest.com.
Herbs for Use and Delight
Thursday, February 15, 2007, noon
Ione Burden Conference Center
Burden Research Center at Essen at I-10
Rita's talk will delight you as she tells about the fascinating world of herbs, many of which are growing in February. She will also tell how you can use them and what infinite possibilities they offer the adventurous gardener and cook. Rita is President of the Baton Rouge Unit of the Herb Society of America. The Baton Rouge Herb Society brings together a group of people with a desire to share experiences with herbs and to continue learning about their cultivation and uses.
The cost is minimal at $5 per person. You bring the lunch. We provide the beverage! For more information and to register, call 225-767-6916 or e-mail us at hilltop@lsu.edu.
Parkway Partners – Second Saturday Plant Sale – Valentine Plants
Saturday, February 10, 2007
9 a.m. to Noon
Parkway Partners Greenhouse
1137 Baronne Street, New Orleans (just off west side of Business 90)
For more information, please call (504) 620-2224 or visit the Parkway Partners website: www.ParkwayPartners.com.
Antique and Old Garden Rose Sale
Saturday, March 3, 2007, 9 a.m. to noon
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Sales located on the grounds of the New Orleans Botanical Garden. For more information, call 504-483-9386.
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Serving Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes