Beverley Square West Association

In the Garden Corner 1-2/09 Vera Julia Gordon

Jan 30, 2009

February. It is definitely still winter! Basically, February is a quiet garden month. It?’s the shortest and the weather can be very varied, in precipitation and in temperature. However, the time of daylight increases by about one and a quarter hours from the beginning of the month until the end. It is the length of day that affects our plants and triggers growth cycles. Crocus and snowdrops will bloom by the end of February, even in snowy yards.
By the end of the month, cut forsythia and pussy willows for indoor forcing. Sketch or diagram your garden; send in your plant and seed orders. Consider what you want to display for the ?“Greenest Block in Brooklyn?” contest as you plan ahead.
This is the time to inspect trees for broken or crossing branches, for the leaves are down and you have a good view. Also check for the holes of Asian Long-Horned Beetles. Do not attempt to prune trees yourself. Get an arborist to assess your needs and give you an estimate. You may wish to check credentials and references. Trees should, ideally, be pruned in February or the first part of March. Prune bushes yourself, if they are low enough. Avoid cutting just the tips; open up the center for air circulation and light. Aim for a natural shape, not boxes and balls. Consider when the plant blooms; if it is in spring, do your pruning after it blooms, unless you have a branch in a dangerous spot. Cutting of evergreens, placed inside and in water, can be cheerful. They will not bloom, but the green leaves are encouraging.
When we have snow cover, put out seeds and bread for the birds. Never put out moldy bread ?– that can go to the compost pile. Check houseplants. Water as needed; our homes are desert-dry. When watering use a weak fertilizer solution occasionally. Turn plants 180?° for even growth. Check for ?“critters?” and apply controls as needed. Washing with warm water is helpful; be sure to wash the undersides of the leaves. If you need to spray, take the plants outside on a mild day or use a large plastic bag: put the plants inside and close it up leaving one opening to spray into until the plant(s) drip. Wait ten or so minutes before taking them out so the spray particles settle. Keep plants away from cold windows; leaves can freeze to the glass! (It happened to my office plants some years ago.)
If you have amaryllis or other bulbs in indoor dormancy, it is time to wake them with warm water and placement on a sunny windowsill. Dream garden dreams; put the Brooklyn Botanic Garden?’s March 7 ?“Making Brooklyn Bloom?” on your advance planning calendar, and WATCH FOR SIGNS OF SPRING.