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February garden checklist

Plants need care, even in the dead of winter

This is a good time to check your houseplants for pests and some trees and shrubs are ready for pruning. See what else you can check off while waiting to get into the garden

Mystery of the month

Do your houseplants have a sticky residue and little tan-colored dots on the leaves and stems?

What causes that and what can you do?

Find the solution to our mystery at the bottom of this article.

Pests and diseases

Check your houseplants for signs and symptoms of pests. If you have little black insects flying around, you likely have fungus gnats. Fungus gnats thrive when the top inch of the potting mix is consistently moist.

One simple way to decrease the fungus gnat population in your home is to add a quarter- to half-inch layer of horticultural sand on top of the potting mix of your potted plants. The sand dries out faster than the potting mix and is unfavorable for fungus gnats trying to lay eggs.

Read more about Managing insects on indoor plants.

Trees and shrubs

Prune some of your woody plants while they are still dormant. If you marked particular limbs to remove last summer and fall, make sure you take care of them this winter.

  • Prune areas with any obvious signs of damage or disease.
  • Disinfect your tools after making cuts on diseased plants.
  • Do not prune any spring-flowering shrubs yet; wait until after they bloom.

See Pruning trees and shrubs.

Flowers and other garden plants

Try forcing blooms from pussy willow, forsythia, Nanking cherry, or red maple that may be on your property. The forced stems will brighten your days while you wait for the first signs of spring flowers in the coming months.

If you need some inspiration on forcing branches, wander the Spring Flower Show at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum until March 16.

Iowa State University Extension has a great article on How to Force Branches of Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs.

Houseplants

Beyond looking for insects on your houseplants, you can help them thrive by increasing the amount of light that the leaves absorb.

  • Start with using a slightly damp, soft cloth to wipe the top and bottom of the leaves.
  • Avoid using oils or detergents that can impede air exchange from the leaves.
  • Clean windows around the plants so more light comes through.

Lawn

Maintain your lawn care equipment while you have time this winter. Sharpen mower blades and repair any broken lawn care tools you use. If you are not sure how to service your lawn mower, take it to a small engine repair shop; some hardware stores also provide this service.

If you did not get a chance to dormant seed all or part of your lawn, you can still do this anytime between now and before soil temperatures get above 50F. 

Other tasks

Protect cut flowers or live plants you give or receive for Valentine’s Day from the cold air while you carry them outside. Trap the warm air around the flowers or plants with a plastic bag before taking them from the store to a pre-warmed car.

If you want your cut flowers to last longer, make a fresh cut on the bottom of the stems and remove any foliage that would sit below the water before placing them in a clean vase filled with slightly warm water and floral preservative. Replace the water every few days, or as the water becomes cloudy. 

Watch our video on cut flower care.

Carefully remove scale from plants.

Solution to the mystery of the month

  • If you see sticky residue and tan-colored spots on your houseplant, you are likely seeing the signs and symptoms of a scale insect feeding on your plant.
  • Scale can be tricky to fully remove because they can be found on the edges and bottom of the container, on the plant stand, and in the area around the plant.
  • The best management strategy is to remove the scale with a nail file or similar tool and regularly scout your plants.

Find out more about Managing insects on indoor plants.

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