February 6 - 12
Prune roses, fruit trees, grape and berry vines for a more bountiful harvest.
Choose your summer shade now! Plant trees in the garden.
The camellia is as versatile as it is handsome. Grow them as espaliers, natural shaped shrubs, hedges or trees.
Pre-emergent weed killers applied to your lawn now will, in most cases, kill crabgrass seedlings as they germinate.

February 13 - 19
Apply a three-inch layer of mulch around shrubs, trees and bedding plants to prevent weeds from getting the best of your garden.
Give your houseplants a new year's bath! Their leaves need to be cleaned of dust and other residue. Set them in the sink or bathtub and sponge off the leaves. Trim where necessary and give them a good drink. In a day or two you can fertilize them.
In warmer areas of the state where the danger of frost is past you can prune fuchsias. Prune them back hard since they only bloom on new wood.
Summer blooming bulbs are available at the nursery now. Choose from dahlias, gladiolus, begonias and more.

February 20 - 26
Snails and slugs are active at this time of year. Keep bait in strategic places like ivy beds and flower borders.
This is a good month for planting groundcovers. They will establish strong root systems before "hot" weather appears.
Remember Arbor Day is March 7! Plant a tree that will lend shade to the summer, help keep the air clear and act as a wind and sound barrier.
Set out perennials this month so you can enjoy the late spring and early summer bloom.
February Garden Fillers
Bring more charm into your garden with a good assortment of colorful spring flowering shrubs. They make excellent backgrounds for annuals, perennials, and beautiful blooming flower bulbs…. daffodils, tulips, and Dutch Iris. All of these shrubs have lush foliage for summer gardens, and some will provide eye catching foliage for autumn. Choose from quince, lilacs, mock orange, spiraea, viburnum, weigelia, and forsythia.

Early spring is the second bulb planting season of the year. In the fall bulbs are planted for spring color and the late winter and spring for summer color. You can brighten your garden with exotic amaryllis and their trumpet shaped flowers, tuberous begonias to make the shade areas shine and calla lilies, hybrid lilies, and gladiolus will brighten your garden and indoor bouquets.

When planting bare root strawberries, be sure to cut their roots back half way. Mix one part humus with two parts soil and set the plants in the ground so the crown is even with the surface. Water in well and later mulch well around the plants. Bare root berries use the same soil mixture mentioned above and should be set deep into the soil so that the canes barely show. Firm the soil around them and water.

The Japanese Maple is a tree that fits into any garden. It grows as a small tree or shrub that offers spring growth which is red in color, soft green summer leaves and scarlet orange or yellow foliage in the fall. As a bonus, it provides a graceful silhouette of delicate green or red branches in winter. This tree is adaptable for many garden situations. Plant it in a container to place on the deck or patio. Use it as a small lawn tree or even in the backyard by the pool where it's beauty will be reflected in the water. Since a filtered sun location is desirable, this makes the Japanese Maple even more adaptable.

IS there a shady spot in your garden? Then, by all means plant cineraria and its beautiful companions such as dwarf campanula, primroses, fiberous or tuberous begonias, foxglove, Canterbury bells, ferns and other foliage plants. Or mass them in wooden wine barrels or other such large containers and display these shade lovers on the lanai or under a covered patio.

If you ever wanted a plant with year round interest, Chinese pieris is it. This plant is an evergreen shrub whose new growth in the spring surprises you by being pale salmon pink to flaming red in color. Later this growth turns into long, wide leaves of dark green. In the fall, delicate strands of greenish pink buds hang from the branch tips and when these bloom in early spring they are pearl white and urn-shaped. The shrub itself grows up to six to ten feet in an open matter. Some of the newer varieties can be held at 4 or 5 feet.

February Articles
Azaleas Are In Bloom
Azaleas are coming into their own now and it is time to visit your local garden center to pick up just the right plants for your garden. The azalea has always been favored but many gardeners have not had the success they should with this beauty. In areas with alkaline soil, soil preparation is a must. Azaleas thrive in acidic soils. Some soils are just the right amount of acidity but they have too much clay so the soil retains water and "drowns" the roots of the azaleas because there is very little air available at the root level.

Location is an important factor because some azaleas favor more sun than others. The Southern Indica group of azaleas is one of those that can and do handle the sun the best. These plants grow larger on the whole than the shade types and with few exceptions the flowers are singles. The Belgian Indicas are sold as shade azaleas and have many double flowers. These beauties want the same planting medium as described but want a shady location. This can include a goodly amount of filtered light.

The use of azaleas in the landscaping has become a popular thing. In remembering that the sun azaleas become very large but are not really fast growers, you can either plant them far enough apart to be correct and wait for the bare spots to fill in or plant them close and prune as they grow. Oddly enough, as delicate as the azalea looks and often thought to be, it can be easily transplanted even when in bloom.

Another point often overlooked in choosing azaleas is the leaf, its size, color and texture. The difference is more obvious when the plant is out of bloom and has become a "landscape foliage plant". But perhaps the most difficult decision is the color of the flowers. Azaleas have an abundant amount of blossoms when in full bloom. You really can't see the foliage on some varieties. Choose from reds, purples, magentas, salmons and whites. And remember each year the show gets larger and lasts longer.

Viburnum For Large Fragrant Flowers
There is a seemingly never ending choice of viburnums and one of those with a fragrant flower might just be the ticket for your garden. As it is there are nearly 20 species of this marvelous plant spread over the northern hemisphere and while we are only going to discuss the fragrant viburnums, there are others noted for their berries, evergreen foliage, autumn color, bare branch pattern or almost anything you could ask for in a shrub.

Perhaps best known of the fragrant viburnums is "Fragrant Snowball" (V. caricephalum) as it is a medium sized compact, semi deciduous shrub with oval dull green leaves that are downy on the underside. This shrub display rich colors in the fall and has enormous clusters of waxy, white long lasting flowers that are seen in spring and early summer and are enjoyed for their delightful fragrance.

Another with a sweet aroma is the Korean spice viburnum (V. carlesii) which has 2-3 inch clusters forming from March to May and are followed by blue black fruit. The "Carlotta" is similar though the fragrance is slightly different and the clusters a little larger. One of the larger evergreen varieties with a honey like fragrance is V. cinnamomifolium. The leaves can be up to 6" long and 3" wide, while the flowers are tiny, almost flat, in 6 inch clusters. Its' fruit is also blue black in color but if you want a viburnum with reddish fruit and one that is evergreen, select V. japonicum. Its' flowers also bloom in larger clusters but are fewer in number.

A delightful deciduous viburnum is V. farreri or fragrans. It can reach 15 feet and has smooth leaves that turn a soft russet red in the fall. Yet the white to pink blooming flowers can be found on the plant from November to March. The fruit that follows is red. If a smaller shrub fits your need look for a low growing variety called "nanum' which reaches 2 feet.
A trip to your local garden center will provide you with the information you need to make a choice among the available viburnums for your area of the state.

The Sprightly Columbine
Spring sneaks in early in some areas of the state and one of the hardiest greeters of spring is perennnial columbine. Often overlooked, this plant should be considered by everyone.

On the coast, it will take the sun while liking some shade in the inland valley areas. Wherever it will be, it will grace the garden with a lacey, woodsy look so common in its native environment. The flowers range in shades that are pastels to brilliant reds, purples, and yellows along with white. They appear on stalks from two inches to four feet in height. The flower has been described by many as looking like a shooting star. Its center appears as a cluster of one color and the star like petals extending from beneath this cluster can be in a blending color or another color entirely. To add to this magical look there are spur like protrusions behind this that carry nectar loved by hummingbirds. With this star shape to the petals and the spurs stretching backwards from the flowers, it is easy to imagine why it has been called the shooting star.

Like most plants, the secret in having a continuing supply of blooms is the removal of spent flowers. Cutting back the old stems gives the second crop of flowers a running start. Leaving a few to wait until the flower has had a chance to reseed will be a plus for an ever continuing supply of this unusual flower year after year.

The McKana Giants and the McKana Improved are probably the best known of the hybrids. These are large flowers on stalks that are from 2-3 feet tall. Shorter varieties are also available. A check with your local California Certified Nursery Professional will provide you with a plant of your choice in both flower color and plant size. This beautiful flower found naturally in our mountains and woods throughout the nation deserves a place in your garden this spring.

Yarrow is a Generous Bloomer
The Greek god, Achilles supposedly used yarrow for healing wounds. The connection here is that yarrow's botanical name is Achillea derived from that mythical god. In actuality, common yarrow was used for many years to help stop bleeding, brewed as a tea to halt fevers, purify the blood and dispel melancholy.

Common yarrow is native to North America, Europe and Asia. It grows to approximately three feet in height. Its foliage is distinctive in that it is fine and fernlike in appearance. It has broad, flat clusters of small flowers blooming colors such as pink, red and white. Botanically, this is known as Achillea millefolium.

Many of the Asian varieties (A. sibirica) have double flowers. Dwarf, white flowered kinds are A. clavennae and A. umbellate and are indigenous to Europe. Both have silvery colored leaves and grow no higher than six inches. Adding to their appeal are their clusters of daisy like flower heads. These flowers are not surprising because Achillea is a member of the daisy family.

Many gardeners are more familiar with the tall yellow yarrow, A. filipendulina. It grows from two to five feet tall and has tight clusters of numerous bright yellow flower heads. It is commonly known as fernleaf yarrow and is used dried or fresh in flower arrangements. The plant does well combined with other plants in making a colorful flower bed. Be sure to check it out for summer color. Once established it is drought tolerant.

Another yellow flowering yarrow that deserves attention is A. tomentosa, woolly yarrow. The rock gardeners should be especially interested as this low grower, 6-10 inches, is very attractive with its golden, pale yellow, or creamy flower heads. The color depends on which variety you choose to plant. Woolly yarrow also makes an excellent groundcover or edging.

Deliciously Spicy
Pinks, one of the many members of the Dianthus Family, never seem to fail to please with their bright colors and unusually spicy scent. While pinks seen to have been forgotten for a time when their cousins, the carnations, held attention, their unique fragrance stirs memories of past pleasures.

The pink, which closely resembles the carnation, can be found in seed or plant form, either works well. All of the dianthus have certain requirements in common. They like the sun, good drainage and non acid soil. They will all do splendidly in rock gardens and other, perhaps, hard to plant areas. Their beauty is appreciated as the flowers appear from late spring on into the early fall.

Pinching out the tip growth as they develop just as we do with chrysanthemums will help the pinks have more blooms and be a more compact plant. Another help is to fertilize with a flower type fertilizer that is low on nitrogen.

As dianthus are not fond of wet spots, they are easy to plant in those sunny, dry area of the garden. The need for air about the plant eliminates mulching, and do not allow the soil to accumulate around the base of the plant either. When planting newly purchased plants, be sure to maintain the soil at the exact height or slightly less than you observe in the nursery container.

Pinks can be found growing in alpine areas as well as having been one of the most popular plants in English cottage gardens. Their flowers can vary from single to double but most pinks are double. The edges of the petals are fluted and the stems can certainly be cut for a lovely addition to a floral bouquet. Every man enjoys a flower in the lapel as a boutonniere.

Other members of the Dianthus family include the carnation, sweet William, garden or border pinks, rainbow or Indian pinks as well as some alpine and rock garden hybrids. Check them out today at your local nursery.

Spring Is Around The Corner
An excellent gardening project for February is revitalizing your container garden. Gardeners know that this portable garden can be year round but many let it go after summer planted flowers die off in the cold weather. If this is the case, then let's get going and spruce this up.

Annuals are in abundance and a natural for filling containers with color. Look for violas, snapdragons, marigolds (in the warmer part of the state), sweet alyssum for starters. Put all of one kind in a container or mix them for maximum effect. Annuals can be combined with perennials to maximize the look of a container garden. Try delphinium, phlox, asters, cineraria, campanula or bergenia.

Each plant has its own attributes and can serve different needs. For example for a container sitting high off the ground, choose a plant that trails and spills downward such as campanula, isophylla, Italian bellflower and its wonderful blue flowers. For an attractive walkway liner, try the bright, vivid flowers of cineraria. Just sink the pots into the ground. Large wine barrel type planters can hold many different types plants such as those that spill along the edges, the taller bloomers in the middle coming towards the edge of the container with those shorter in height or evergreen plants. Many call the creation of a large container English basket gardening as you are actually creating a mini-landscape which is contained. The same method can be used in long planter boxes which are up against a wall or fence, just have the taller plants in the background.

To expand the container garden, consider shrubs, conifers and small trees. Camellias are excellent tub subjects as are dwarf citrus. When not in bloom, their glossy green good looks are very decorative. Another idea is to plant summer blooming bulbs in containers. These are planted now and include gladiolus, canna lilies, and the Mexican Shell Flower. This way you will have color to place wherever you want come summer. Daisy plants such as the Shasta Daisy and the Marguerites should not be forgotten. They look great in a large clay pot. For pure decoration, try geranium all potted up and lining a staircase or patio. In full bloom, they're certainly colorful.

A container in full bloom is the finishing touch to any garden scene. Start potting up today!