Depending on where you live, February is the time when most of us are still dealing with cold temperatures and impatiently waiting for spring. Growing zones 5 and below are still too cold to start seeds, and it may seem like there isn’t a lot to do in the garden. But right now is when our gardens are poised and ready to spring into action, and there are a surprising number of things we can do to help them off to a great start. On your mark, get set, go!
- Turn your compost piles. (More about the Basics of Composting Here!)
- Keep those bird feeders filled, to encourage our feathered friends to stick around and help with pest control all year.
- Get out the pruners and cut fall-bearing raspberries to the ground. Now is also the time to prune apple and pear trees, and cut back Ivy and Virginia Creeper.
- Build any additional raised beds you’ll want for the vegetable garden.
- Deciduous trees and shrubs can be moved, as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
- Plant out bare root roses now.
- Make sure to mulch your perennial vegetables like asparagus and artichokes.
- Leek and onions can be started under cover from seed.
- Cut ornamental grasses to about an inch above the ground.
- Last but not least, draw up your garden plan and start ordering seeds!
Many of the seeds that you’ll plant later will need to be pre-treated by scarification or stratification. To learn all about that process, take a look at this post about Cold Treatment and this post about Pre-Soaking. Check out this helpful video How to Build & Set Up Your Flower and Vegetable Indoor Grow-Light Station: All The Practical Steps! Don’t forget to browse the fantastic varieties of seeds available on the Everwilde website, and look for a post about new varieties coming soon!