SPRING IN SIGHT
The bad thing about February is that even if the month were only twenty-five days long instead of twenty-eight, it would still be the longest one of the year. Neither the presidents’ days nor Valentine’s Day make it any better–unless you happen to work for a greeting card company.
In February in the northern hemisphere every living creature starts yearning for spring, even though spring seems very far off. Two days ago I saw twelve robins congregated in a yard near my house. They have obviously returned from warmer areas to start the annual nesting and mating ritual. I looked at my Chinese tree peonies, which appear dormant, but, in fact, are expressing their yearning for spring by swelling their buds in anticipation. The little Crocus chrysanthus by my driveway also have buds that show just a bit of color and the tips of the neighboring early daffodils are well and truly out of the ground. I imagine that in swamps and other wet places in my area, the skunk cabbages are gearing up to flower in their gloriously malodorous way. If you listen anywhere outdoors, you can hear the stirrings of a faint horticultural melody that will reach an incredible crescendo sometime in April.
The best thing about February may be that it eventually gives way to March, which seems, by contrast, to fly by in about three weeks. As I anticipate March, I have to stop myself from doing tasks that shouldn’t be done yet in favor of activities that will improve me and not hurt my plants. The following is an end-of-February “do’s and don’ts” list:
· Mulch: Do not remove winter mulches too soon. This is the horticultural equivalent of automatically taking off heavy coats and sweaters on March first, even though it is thirty-five degrees outside. All of those plants, whether they are under the ground or just pushing through, still need a little insulation. If you must, push the encroaching mulch or dead leaves away from the emerging snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils, but don’t clear out the beds.
· Pansies: Merchants put them out as soon as they possibly can, but unless you are going to pot up those pansies and put them in protected spots, wait a bit to buy them. Pansies are tough, cold-tolerant plants, but even they need a bit of warmth to flourish. Remember that those same merchants bring their pansy displays inside at night, so the blooms are not discouraged by the frigid night air.
· Catalogs: If you have money to spend on plants this year, get your orders in now. Supporting the merchants of your choice is the best way to make sure they will still be in business next spring.
· Pruning: Get out there and prune! The only exception is spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas, spirea, rhododendrons, etc,. that have already set their flower buds. Nip the dead flowerheads off your hydrangeas, but go no further if you want blooms in the early summer. Prune butterfly bushes back to eighteen inches above the ground. They will thank you later.
· Clean-Up: Don’t move the mulch, but do get rid of all those dead stalks that you preserved for “winter interest”–or neglected to cut down–last fall. The seedheads are no longer any good to the birds, as all the seeds have scattered. If you clean up now, you will have less work to do when it is time to remove the mulches and start new plants.
· Sharpen Your Tools: There is nothing worse than a dull blade, whether it is on your clippers, loppers or your trusty spade. Sharpen them now and they will do a much better job in the coming weeks.
· Get Some Inspiration: This is the season for flower shows, large and small. If you can’t get to one of the big shows, like the Philadelphia Flower Show, see what is offered by your local botanical garden or arboretum. Late February and early March is the time for orchid shows, including the big one at the New York Botanical Garden. Drink in the color, the greenery and the pleasingly high humidity. Even if you will never grow an orchid in your life, looking at innovative designs and color combinations will make you a better gardener.
· Buy a Primrose: Everyone, from supermarkets to mass merchandisers, is stocking colorful primroses now. Buy an inexpensive plant put it in a prominent place and keep it watered. By the time it finishes blooming, spring will really be just around the corner. Keep those primroses alive until April 15, or so and you can plant them in shady spots in the garden. By that time, both you and your outdoor plants will be ready to bloom in the spring sunshine.