February Landscape, Lawn & Garden Tips for Zone 8

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• February is a good time to broadcast weed preventer granuals over your lawn. Weed preventers work by killing the seeds of these weeds before or as they attempt to germinate. *Caution: If you are planning to overseed your Fescue lawn this month, or in March, do not apply pre-emergent weed preventer at this time. Learn more about weed prevention in the lawn
• Broadcast a weed preventer such as Hi-Yield Weed & Grass Stopper Granules (contains Treflan) in shrub beds, islands, and other non-lawn areas to control weeds for up to 1 year! Treflan works by killing weed seeds before they have a chance to germinate.
• If you plan on seeding a fescue lawn or overseeding a fescue lawn this spring, the earlier you do so the better. There are two basic categories of fescue seed: "Turf-type", and KY-31 Fescue. We recommend using turf-type fescues or a mixture of the two. Keep in mind that Ky 31 is best suited for use in pastures and thrives best when cut at 6 inches or higher. It is best to broadcast fescue seed with a rotary-type walk behind or shoulder spreader. Feed newly seeded fescue lawns with a lawn starter fertilizer conatining plenty of phosphorus (middle number).
• Apply pelletized lime at this time to Fescue, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns. Lime is not a fertilizer, however, you may notice after applying it that your lawn greens up quickly. This is due to the correction of the soil pH, which can unlock and releases fertilzers that were applied in the past. If you have never applied lime to your lawn, a one-time application of 40 lbs standard pelletized lime per 500 -1,000 square feet of lawn area, or one 30 LB bag of Green 'N' Grow Lime per 5,000 square feet of lawn area, usually corrects soil pH to a level sufficient for these grasses to thrive and for fertilizers applied to activate. Make sure to use "pellitized" lime as it activates instantly. Soil pH correction usually lasts for several years. You can test your soil pH with a soil test kit purchased from your local nursery and garden center pr your local extension service may provide soil testing services.
• Feed established fescue lawns in February with a high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer. To determine how much fertilizer to apply measure your lawn area(s) for total square footage by multiplying the length x width of area(s) to be covered. SEE: How To Fertilize A Fescue Lawn
• During a warmer than usual February, apply a little compost or some mulch to protect tender new growth that might be emerging a little early. There's still a good chance we'll get some cold weather over the next month or so.
• In what seems now the rare event we get snow, brush the white stuff off of branches of plants that have more brittle branches which might snap if the snow were to become wet and heavy. Otherwise, leave the snow on the plants as it can serve as an insulator if the temeperatures were to plummet below 20 degrees.
• Dormant spraying of fruit trees should be done now. SEE: Disease Control On Fruit Trees
• With the exception of spring-flowering shrubs, many shrubs and trees can be safely pruned now. Regarding spring flowering shrubs such as Azaleas, Forsythia and Quince, wait to prune these until after they have bloomed.
• If your Forsythia, Jasmine and Quince branches are not yet blooming they can be cut now and brought into the house now for forcing. The warmth in the home will bring some early bloom and color to your room.
• If your home has a fireplace, you can remove the ashes and use them to fertilize Iris and other alkaline soil plants. - Now would be a good time to turn or till garden soil. This will expose insect eggs to the effects of winter and hungry birds and, if we have more freezing weather it will help to break apart heavy clods of dirt.
• Don't forget to dust off your houseplants with a damp cloth. If your houseplants are actively growing give them a shot of liquid plant food. Also check your houseplants for insects. If you have a backyard greenhouse, check those plants too.
• Get your garden tools ready for spring by sharpening and oiling them. Sharpen mower blades. Take your mowers, blowers, hedge trimmers and other power tools in for a tune up now. If you wait until these tools are needed in early spring, the outdoor power equipment shops will have a waiting list and it might take weeks to get your tools back.
• It's not too early to begin to think about the strategy for new spring plantings. It's a good idea to create a map of your garden to determine where any new plants or gardens will be planted. You can use the Create A Garden System in Gardenality to pick out plants that will grow and thrive in your garden(s).