February in the Garden - SCV, Southern California

I’m a little late… so shoot me. Finish up whatever you can’t get done in the next week in early March. I thought it would be nice if you had a list of things that you can do this month. I touched on some earlier in the month.



Buy rubber boots so that you can garden in the rain – or at least go out there and check things that look like they need some help. They might be on sale now, so you can put them in the potting shed or garage for next year.


Photo by Christie Gelsomino - Vision to Be Organized

Repot cacti and succulents after bloom if they are pot bound






Planting time for bare root fruit trees
and bare root roses
and bare root shrubs and vines
and bare root trees



Plant citrus trees

Watch for frost… protect citrus and other subtropicals like Plumeria from frost damage – details on 1/29/10 post

Cut back Ornamental Grasses – details on the 2/13/10 post

Plant Gladiolas, Tuberose, and Gloriosa Lilies --- Summer blooming bulbs

Keep an eye out for snails and slugs… as it warms up they come out. Try copper strips, or decollate snails for some non-toxic ammunition in your war against the garden pests. A little FYI – opossums actually eat snails, so if you have some as nighttime visitors you are receiving back up troops

Prune evergreen shrubs

Prune winter flowering shrubs and vines after they bloom (think Hardenbergia – Lilac Vine and gelsemium – Carolina Jessamine)

Prune flowering fruit trees while in bloom

Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals

If you like to plant from seeds you can sow seeds for warm-season annuals



Feed houseplants that are growing or blooming



Plant or transplant cool-season vegetable seedlings



If you like to plant from seeds you can sow warm season vegetable seeds
Weather permitting, divide perennials



It’s not too late to plant the following Spring Flowers:
o Anemone
o Ranunculus – bulbs that will come back
o Delphinium – these can be planted all year because they are not light sensitive. They are perennials but are best replanted every year here in California. So save your money and buy them small and locally. Don’t waste your time on mail order Delphiniums from back east… they won’t last here. They are a high water plant so if you add some water retaining polymer to the soil when you plant them, you will be able to mix them in with other less water hungry plants.
o Iceland Poppy
o Pansy
o Primrose
o Stock
o Sweet William – very long lasting