Pruning
February is the best time of year for major pruning and shaping of most trees and ornamental shrubs. At this time you can cut overgrown shrubs way back to rejuvenate them. You can also remove limbs from trees--but never top a tree!
Spring-Flowering Shrubs
Spring-flowering shrubs bloom on last year’s wood and should not be pruned until
after flowering (if you want to preserve the bloom for this year). These include: Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Forsythia, Spirea, Flowering Quince, Kerria, Pieris, Weigela, Abelia, Oakleaf and Macrophylla Hydrangeas, Beautyberry, Clethra, and Vitex. If you desire to cut these shrubs back substantially, you can prune them in February but be willing to forego a bloom for this year.
Summer-Flowering Shrubs
These bloom on this year’s wood, as well, and should be pruned before new growth starts. On
deciduous shrubs, 1/3 of the oldest shoots should be cut back to the ground. Summer-
flowering Buddleia Davidii should have all shoots cut to 8-12” from the ground. Crape myrtle
trees may be pruned at this time but try not to commit “crape murder” by topping.
Overgrown Established Plants
Plantings of old established plants like Holly, Cleyera, Japanese Holly, Pittosporum, Ligustrum
and similar broad-leaf evergreens can be cut back to 15-24” from the ground if you want to
rejuvenate them.
Conifers
Pine, Junipers, Fir, Spruce, Yew and Arborvitae will not withstand heavy pruning because most
conifers don’t have latent buds below the foliage area and do not readily produce adventitious
buds. If a branch is cut back past the foliage area, it will not re-foliate. The best time to prune
conifers is just after the new growth is completed, usually in late spring or early summer.
Encourage bushier growth on pines by pinching out the new candles. Hemlocks are the
exception to the rule. They will tolerate heavy pruning and are sometimes used for hedge
plants.
Tree Wound Paints
These are useless in sealing pruning cuts and may actually do harm to the tree! Avoid them.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses should be cut back before new growth starts. Mow Liriope (Monkeygrass)
to remove last year’s unsightly foliage. Ornamental grasses may be divided now.
Fertilizing
Fescue Lawns should be fertilized in late February. Use no more than 1 pound of nitrogen per
1000 sf. Late or excessive fertilizing in spring predisposes fescue to Brown Patch disease. If a tree is in good condition, well mulched, or in a natural area, it does not need regular fertilizing. If you fertilize your lawn regularly, you are fertilizing trees in the area also. Most shrubs respond well to an application of a slow release fertilizer. Apply according to directions and distribute it evenly over the entire root area but away from the stem.
Fruit Trees
Apply a dormant oil spray to fruit trees and ornamentals for control of overwintering insects
and eggs. Do not apply to broadleaf evergreens when freezing temperatures are expected.
Wild Garlic (Wild Onion)
Control Wild Garlic with 2, 4-D Amine. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent as a surfactant to help the herbicide adhere to the narrow leaves. Spray in late February/early March, and again in late August. Control may require two years of persistence, spraying in both growth seasons.
Roses
Thin bush roses to 3-5 good strong canes and shorten canes to 15”. Prune climbers after they
flower in early summer. Shrub Roses such as the popular variety "Knockout" need little (if any)
pruning but can be pruned hard if they are overgrown.
Grapes
Prune after most cold weather is over, usually late February/March. Bleeding will not hurt the vines.
What to Plant in February
Around the last week of February, in Polk County, you can usually safely plant CABBAGE, LETTUCE, PEAS, RADISHES, SPINACH, CARROTS, ONIONS, TURNIPS, BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, and BEETS. However, if temps drop below 26 degrees, definitely provide protection for your transplants.
Should you need more information on any of these topics please stop by the Polk County Cooperative Extension office located at 79 Carmel Lane just outside of Columbus, or pop us an
email
or give us a call at 828-894-8218.