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in Gardening and Planting· The PNW· Winter

Gardening By Month – February

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I’m so excited to share my “gardening by month” tips for February! Spring is getting closer, so I wanted to share a list of to do’s in February that will help get your garden ready for the season. Keep in mind that I live in the PNW, which is gardening zone 8, with a last frost date of April 18th. If you live in a different zone, make sure you confirm the frost dates in your area and plan accordingly.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I will make a small commission if you decide to purchase any of these products, with no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.

Garden Planning for the Month

The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Planner tool
I use this tool every year to help determine which garden beds I can plant my vegetables in.

If you haven’t finalized your gardening plan, now is the time to do it! I use the Old Farmer’s Almanac garden planner to plan where I will grow my flowers and veggies in my raised garden beds. I do pay for a yearly subscription for this planner, but for me it’s worth it because I don’t take thorough notes throughout the year. You can also sketch out your own plan if you are a good note taker.

Mapping out your garden is such an important part of the planning process. There are crops that need to be rotated every year, and you must keep track of where you plant them. Crop rotation prevents the build-up of soil-borne pests and disease, and allows for the replenishment and efficiency of soil nutrients. Members of the same plant family shouldn’t be planted in the same garden space more than once every three or four years.

Garden Planting for February

rhododendron overlooking the greenhouse
This is our mature rhododendron tree in full bloom during the spring.

Planting spring flowering evergreen shrubs and vines is a great gardening project for the month of February. Some of my favorites are azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Their blooms are just gorgeous and really make an impact in your spring garden!

Sweet Pea seed starts in 4 inch pots in greenhouse.
Sweet pea starts from last year, growing in the greenhouse.

You can start sowing your sweet pea and pansy seeds indoors. I use 4-inch pots for my sweet peas because of their deep root system, but I have a friend that actually rolls up newspaper to make a tube, and packs it full of potting soil, placing one seed in each tube. The entire newspaper tube can be planted in the ground when it’s time to plant outdoors. Don’t forget to soak the sweet pea seeds for 8-10 hours before you sow them.

Pink roses overlooking  the greenhouse.
Here’s a beautiful spring view of my pink roses in front of the greenhouse.

Bare root and potted roses can be planted in February. Bare root vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus and rhubarb can also be planted in February.

Monthly Maintenance in the Garden

Prune roses, grapes and wisteria mid-month. I usually wait until President’s Day, because it’s easier for me to remember. Remove any diseased, dead or damaged canes. Wait to prune spring-flowering deciduous ornamentals like forsythia and quince, and spring shrubs until they flower.

Finish pruning your deciduous fruit trees. Fertilize them two to three weeks before they flower. Feed other mature trees and shrubs as their new growth starts.

Tulips and boxwoods in the cottage garden.
I try to plant tulips in my cottage garden that look more like peonies.

Watch your early spring bulbs growth. When the foliage is 1 inch high, the mulch around the plant can gradually be removed.

You can help protect ornamental plants from pests and disease, while they are still dormant, by applying horticultural oil/ dormant spray this month.

Tune up your yard equipment and sharpen mower blades to prepare for spring. All I want to do is mow the lawn right now because it has grown so tall from all the rain we have been having. But from everything I have read, it is advised to keep from mowing until March at the earliest.

Add Color to Your Home in February

Try force blooming some of the following branches for an indoor pop of color…dogwood, azalea, rhododendron, forsythia, pussy willow and quince. Make long, slanted cuts and place in water. Change the water every three to four days.

Most of all, make sure you have fun and don’t get too overwhelmed by all the gardening chores you have for the month of February. If you don’t get to it all, just move onto the next month. It’s all about enjoying the journey!

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Filed Under: Gardening and Planting, The PNW, Winter Tagged With: bareroot, February, gardening, gardening by month, greenhouse, PNW, sweet pea

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Comments

  1. Penny says

    02/06/2020 at 9:27 am

    Wow! Great tips and gorgeous pictures. I love that you use the old Farmer’s Alamanac!

    • Kim says

      02/06/2020 at 10:55 am

      Thank you Penny! I’m so glad You like them! And thank you so much for your support my friend!

  2. Rebecca Rainsberger says

    02/06/2020 at 7:37 pm

    It is amazing, Kim! Every inch of your house and garden are stunning!

    • Kim says

      02/07/2020 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you sweet friend! I appreciate all your support and love!

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Hi! I’m Kim! I live in a beach cottage on the PNW’s Puget Sound with my husband and pups, Lucy and Jax. I have a passion for home decor and gardening and can't wait to share life in the PNW with you! Read More…

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