Learn—month by month—the necessary gardening activities for lawns and shrubs, annuals and perennials, fruit and nut trees, and bulbs, roots, and tubers. Included is a timeline for activities such as soil testing, planting, pruning, fertilizing, pruning, mulching, indoor plantings—from cauliflower to okra, from camellias to dahlias to heirloom roses.

Fruits and Nuts

• Plant young pecan and other deciduous fruit trees and grapes.
• Select budwood.
• Start dormant pruning of established fruits.
• Protect all young trees from rabbit damage by placing wire around the base of the tree.
• Put on dormant oil spays for scale.

Shrubs

• Planting is still the main activity but delay in case of freezing weather.
• Get your soil tested and be prepared for spring gardening.

Lawns

• Perform a soil test to determine if limestone is recommended and apply it any time this month.
• Dig out wild garlic, chickweed, Poa annua, dandelion, and other winter weeds.

Roses

• Add plants to rose garden.
• Mulch all plantings.

Annuals and Perennials

• Plant hardy annual seed without delay. Have you thought about violas?

Bulbs

• Continue spring bulb planting.

Miscellaneous

• Shrubs, trees, and indoor plants make excellent gifts.

Questions?

Call the Master Gardener Helpline at (877) 252-4769. A Master Gardener Extension volunteer is waiting to answer your call.