In February, gardening is all about savoring the first hints of spring and preparing for the growing season. Even though winter isn’t quite done, there are plenty of garden chores around your home that need attention, and gardeners may take comfort in the knowledge that the first indications of spring are beginning to appear. Need some tips on how to landscape your area before spring arrives?

Here are some of our essential February lawn and garden tips that all Florida home and business owners will appreciate.

Take Inventory and Inspect Your Property

Examine the equipment in your yard and garden. Now is the time to clean, replace, or repair them so they’ll be ready for you in a few months. Order your seeds and bulbs ahead of time for the things you’ll be planting soon. Summer and fall flowering bulbs can be planted outside as soon as they arrive in many growing zones. Finally, to avoid future issues, inspect and certify the condition of your patio furniture. You could get new cushions and pillows or have them fixed or repaired if they’re worn and faded.

Lawn Tips

Watering

It’s important to give your lawn a uniform of water every 10 to 14 days. For the best results, you should always water in the early morning hours before 8:00 a.m. while keeping in mind any local watering regulations (e.g. designated watering days).

Fertilizing

February is a bit early to fertilize your warm-weather grasses for various reasons, including poor iron and potassium uptake in colder soil that may result in an uneven absorption of fertilizer nutrients. By fertilizing too soon, it may result in visible yellow patches, discolorations, and uneven growth. Therefore, it’s best to wait until April before fertilizing for the first time.

Weeding

Taking a break from the usual activities of mowing and fertilizing and focusing on ridding your lawn of weeds and pests is extremely important in guaranteeing a continuous healthy lawn. February is a great time to apply pre-emergent herbicides to your lawn as long as it is predicted to rain within the 7 days following the application of herbicides.

Common Pests and Disease

Inspecting for common pests, such as chinch bugs and beetle larvae in February is also another important foundational step in preparing for the new year. If you discover signs of infestation, you should immediately contact a reputable local pest control company. Pest prevention is the most effective method in mitigating pest damage on your property, but once pests are there, early identification and proper treatment are the only things that will save your lawn.

Lawn diseases are similar to pests in understanding that prevention is the best method, but once a disease has been established, only early and effective treatments will work. If not caught early, chinch bugs, grub worms, webworms, fire ants, mole crickets, and whiteflies are all common winter lawn pests in Florida as they can cause serious lawn damage. If you notice any signs of these pests, contact a local lawn care company immediately to prevent further damage.

Esential Gardening Tips

February is a busy time of year for home gardeners as it is finally time to plant, prune, and fertilize your way to summer garden glory. We recommend that you follow our list of gardening essentials this month as you prepare for the next growing season:

Fertilize citrus trees and plants
Plant new roses
Prune and fertilize existing roses
Add compost to flower beds
Sow vegetables indoors
Plant vegetables
Plant herbs
Plant flowers

Other Things To Keep In Mind

To remove damaged, dead, or diseased sections of dormant shrubs, vines, and trees prune them (or prevent them from growing out of control). Don’t forget to water your container plants and keep them out of the frost. If the ground is functional and hospitable for the tree, move your living Christmas trees outside and plant them. To remain one step ahead of hungry insects and climate conditions, grow frost-tolerant trees and plants, and apply a dormant spray to fruit trees and roses.

Lopez Landscaping & Design in West Palm Beach are here to help you understand the importance of professional gardening services by showing you some of the benefits that you can get. Call Lopez Landscaping & Design at (561) 475-1943 or contact us online to schedule a free estimate.