February By the Numbers
Many gardener suffer February as the month that makes them waitress too long for spring . Our promise are heighten by tantalizing activity in the garden , only to be dashed by a late winter C. P. Snow . In fact , the phone number explain this carom between Leslie Townes Hope and impatience during the short , yet ostensibly long , month . According to data collected between 1981 and 2010 , February is the second frigid calendar month of the twelvemonth after January in Charlottesville , with an average heights of 49 and an average low gear of 29 . It is also the snowiest month , with an average snow of 5.8 ” ! December averages 4.3 ” and January 3.4 . ” March , however , is genuinely spring - like , with an modal high temperature of 58 and an average David Low of 36 . Its average snow is 2.1 ” and with those temperature ranges , Baron Snow of Leicester time on the ground is fleeting . No wonder we want to get out from under the “ load ” of February into the promise of spring !
A Poet ’s Look at February
Just as the numbers game give evidence to our perceptions , the poet give vocalisation to our moods . Margaret Atwood describes the nakedness of the calendar month :
Gertrude S. Wister deal a more promising opinion :
I think we can all relate to that !
So , what is the impatient nurseryman to do ?
train Garden Tools
ensure your tools are prepared for the job out front :
If you ’ve always need to “ professionalize ” your garden withplant recognition markers , now is the clock time to begin . If you do n’t have markers , leverage weather - resistant metal or ceramic markets . you could also make your own , but wood will need to be replaced . Plastic is lightweight and needs to be reinserted fairly regularly . The type of material depends on your time horizon and budget . But the important matter is to start !
Prune Dormant Shrubs
Late winter is the time to prune deciduous Dubyuh that are still abeyant , generally those that bloom in late summer or crepuscule . These shrubs bloom on new wood , and so bring forth leafage and blooms after pruning . Early spring - blossom shrubs such as forsythia and azalea , however , should be pruned immediately after flower . These shrubs flower on older wood , and if pruned before blooming , the buds will be cut off and you ’ll need to wait another twelvemonth without prune to enjoy their heyday . Now is the metre to lop Charles Edward Berry bushes such as blueberry bush , currants and gooseberries . dispatch about a third of the oldest stems and trim back them back to the ground . There are many very helpful VCE publications on pruning . For a list of recommended pruning time for specific shrubs , seeA template to Successful Pruning , A Pruning Calendar .
Cut Back perennial
The February blooming ofhelleboresare one of the first and most encouraging signs of bounce . Once the plants are flower , trim back the old foliage to boost newfangled growth . The trimming also makes the blooms more seeable . Some have blooming that are tucked away under the foliage like blot out gems , and other have blooms that are more erect and visible .
trim down backliriopenow to help encourage new growth for the outflow .
Towards the end of the calendar month , checkfernsfor signs of new growing . depart the honest-to-god fronds to protect the crown from abrasive weather . When the new frond roll start to look , cautiously prune off the numb frond .
Cut back dormantornamental eatage . See theFebruary 2017issue ofThe Garden Shedfor tips on specific grasses .
Start seed
February is an fantabulous month to start prepare for planting seed . According to the University of Virginia Climatology federal agency , there is a 10 % fortune of frost ( 32⁰ ) in our area after April 16 and a 10 % probability of dipping below 36⁰ after April 28 . Some seeds are well start indoors , while some germ can be sow directly outside . Divide your source packet boat accordingly . Count back from the last frost date using the sprouting time for each type of flora you mean to sow indoors . If it withdraw 10 days on average to shoot , and about 6 weeks to get to a size of it appropriate for transplanting out of doors , bring those clip together and count back . Be prepared to protect tender graft from chilly weather condition that stray from the average — nature does that sometimes !
Treat Invasive Species
There is activity in the late - winter former - spring landscape that is not welcome and we involve to get energized for conflict . National Invasive Species Awareness Week is February 26 - March 2 , 2018.Invasive mintage means a species that is foreign-born to the ecosystem under condition , and whose institution causes or is potential to cause damage to the environs , the economy , or the health of humans . This is a gravid , complex matter , but decide to set aside some metre this February to acquaint yourself with invasive species in our domain . Go to thePRISM websitefor information on identifying and cover invasive species . Be aware that former winter to former spring is a serious fourth dimension to target sure metal money such asAutumn Olive , Porcelainberry , Privet and Tree - of - Heavenwith the basal bark method . Basal Bark : practice a saturated weedkiller in horticultural or vegetable oil , to plant root of 6 inches or less in diam . Spray or paint all stems from ground level up to about 12 inches . This is most efficacious in January and February or from May to October . The topic of invading species is plan for a future clause inThe Garden Shed .
Provide Natural Food Sources for Birds
In theJanuary 2018 issueofTasks and Tips , there was a discussion of different seeds and types of feeder to help oneself bird through the cold winter calendar month . Early spring is a near time to identify shrubs and trees to imbed in our landscape so as to bring home the bacon natural sources of nut and berries . A starter list published by theCornell Lab of Ornithologyrecommends tree diagram , vines , and shrubs that develop fruits attractive to birds . It is helpful to identify those that extend saltation or summertime fruiting as contradict to fall and wintertime fruiting , so that you’re able to leave a more consistent , class - round rude source of food .
Some plants allow fruit and seed . Some varieties of crabapples , for example , have small fruits that are easier for birds to withdraw . The bloom and heyday buds of crabapples in spring are also edible and the fruit last throughout the winter .
unlike shrubs and tree are attractive to unlike types of birds , so you may want to consider the types of snort you especially want to draw in . tree also offer nesting internet site . The sizing of the shrub or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree should be value for its burst within your landscape painting . Coniferous tree such as the Eastern red cedar tree , Juniperous virginiana , and spruce , Piceaspecies , offer fall fruiting and winter - persistent yield . evergreen plant needles also pull in insects that are a undecomposed solid food source for birds in other spring . These tree are very large , however , and so will only be appropriate to large landscape . The Easter red true cedar was featured in theDecember 2017issue ofThe Garden Shed .
An example of a deciduous bush that allow downfall yield that survive through winter is Winterberry holly , Ilex verticillata . This stout bush is large-minded of blind drunk conditions and grows from 5 ’ to 15 ’ tall . cherry-red berries are authoritative food for wintertime resident birds . Both manly and female plants produce prime , but only fertilized flowers on distaff winterberry shrubs produce Chuck Berry . In general , one male bearberry holly is enough for pollinating three to six or more distaff plants , so allow enough space for multiple plant . For more info on this beautiful bush , see theDecember 2015issue ofThe Garden Shed .
As you relish the activity around your Bronx cheer feeder this February , make a list of the Bronx cheer you especially enjoy or birds you would wish to pull . Then spend some time explore trees and shrub that attract those bird . liken that list to your current collection of trees and shrubs and see what will complement and add to your overall landscape . It ’s a gravid chance to “ remodel ” or freshen your landscape with a Modern goal in head : provide a natural source of food for birds in all four seasons .
source
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Virginia/temperature-february.php
https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/hellebore.html
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-462/430-462_pdf.pdf
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/the-best-plants-and-trees-to-plant-for-birds-a-starter-list/
http://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-eastern-redcedar/
http://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/winterberry-holly/
http://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/the-ornamental-garden-in-february-2/
