TIPS

In February it's too early to do any gardening, so this is the time to check your winter landscape. A quality design will provide interest and beauty throughout the year, even when there are no flowers to spice things up. Review your photos and take a critical look at your home's "curb appeal." Midwinter is the opportune moment to make plans and work on a design.

Do you have forsythia or pussy willow shrubs? Cut a few branches now to force for early
bloom indoors.

With heating and cooling costs going through the roof, think about using a combination of deciduous and evergreen trees to provide a winter windbreak, shade in the summer, and allow beneficial southern exposure in the winter when you need the warming.

Rainfall/Moisture. It's wet somewhere, but it's dry in Nebraska! Monitor the rainfall and snow depth. We don't usually think of trees and shrubs needing water in the winter, but a drought situation will badly stress evergreens and shrubs. Water your trees and shrubs throughout the winter if at all possible, and certainly in mid to late winter; there will be some root activity to support. Remember to unscrew the hose from the outdoor water source, and bring your hoses into a warm place when you've finished.

Avoid walking on your lawn when it is frozen or full of frost. The foot traffic can kill the growth points of the turf crowns and you'll have a dead grass path once the growing season begins.

On warm winter days - rake up late fallen leaves to minimize the chance of mold and fungus troubles in the spring.

Examine your deciduous trees. Get necessary tree work done in the winter. Dead branches, crossed branches or diseased wood should be removed. Call a competent professional.

Check any shrubs or trees that have been planted in the last two years. These are the most susceptible to "frost heave" that can leave roots dangling into air pockets or exposed. Replant as soon as possible as the ground thaws. Be sure that plant crowns and roots are covered.

Put water and food out for the birds. Keep the water above freezing by using a special birdbath heater. Birds help us in the summer by eating loads of nuisance insects, so keep them coming to your yard all year around.

As the calendar moves from late February to March and April - remove your winter mulch, such as cut evergreen branches or straw. You mulch plants to prevent freezing and thawing - you want the ground to stay frozen and prevent frost heave. When it gets warm and the ground is finally thawed, load up the wheelbarrow with all that mulch and dispose of it.

Trees and shrubs benefit from an application of all-purpose fertilizer when buds swell and the ground begins to warm. Put a 1 -2 inch layer of compost down with the fertilizer, mix them together with the top layer of soil around the plants, then cover everything with a 1 - 2 inch layer of fresh mulch. Be kind to the plants and don't get fertilizer on their crowns.

If you didn't remove dead plant material in your garden beds in the fall, do it now while the new growth is tiny. While you are into spring clean-up mode, pick up all those twigs that fell on the lawn, then, rake the grass to fluff it up.

Assess your spring bulb situation while the bulbs are in bloom. Could you use more tulips and daffodils? While daffodils will naturalize and multiply when they are happy, tulips may last for only a few years. Take pictures and keep them for a guide in the fall when the bulbs you order arrive for planting.

Did you take proper care of your garden tools last fall? No? Then take advantage of the late winter, early spring season to do it. Sharpen cutting tools....pruning shears, flower shears, the lawn mower blade, and digging tools. Oil the tool lightly with penetrating oil and wipe it with a clean rag.

In early spring, once the ground has thawed, plant your bare root woody plants such as roses, shrubs, and trees. This gives them a full growing season to get acclimated. Pay close attention to the planting instructions from the supplier, and make sure the new plants have adequate water all season and into next winter.