EDDIE SEAGLE: Landscape suggestions for January and February
Jan. 10—"Life is about change, sometimes it's painful, sometimes it's beautiful, but most of the time it's both." Kristin Kreuk. "Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing." Sarah Ban Breathnach. "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Seneca. "Change can be scary, but you know what's scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving, and progressing." Mandy Hale. "What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet." Anne Frank. "Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." Carl Bard.
The early weeks of winter have brought some cold weather to the area. Expect more of the same over the next few weeks. However, as we enjoy this season and the weather, remember to start planning for the coming season. In the landscape, leave the deadened parts on your plants for now. They will help buffer the plants from further cold damage over the next few weeks. If you remove them now, such removal would encourage new growth which could soon be killed by the arrival of additional cold temps.
Begin planning your annual and perennial planting list for the spring. Also, transplanting existing perennials and woody plants can continue. Managing your roses by planting, pruning or moving them is best in February. Also, in February, plan to prune the dead wood from all the flowering and non-flowering plants, and cut hydrangea back to 3/4 of their growth. The transplanting season continues for all container plants. If freezing temps occur at or below 32 degrees F, then delay pruning and transplanting.
Bird feeders and bird baths: Be sure to keep your bird feeders filled with bird seed to service all the birds that come your way. Clean any older food left behind from the bird feeder, giving space for fresh food. Also, clean the bird baths and keep sufficient water levels in them to quinch their thirst and allow them to splatter about.
Bird houses: Now is the time to clean out and clean-up your birdhouses. Replace rotted wood, re-paint as needed, and check the stability of the support post. Your birds will thank you later in the season for completing this task and giving them a clean home.
Crape myrtles: You can propagate crape myrtles from hardwood cuttings of last year's growth. Make the cuttings about six-inches long, and insert in a flat containing a mixture of equal parts of perlite and peat moss. The medium should be well-drained. The cuttings should be rooted and ready to transplant into containers by early summer.
Garden cleanup: Continue removing refuse from lawns, landscape beds and flower areas. Any leaves and dead plants remaining on the ground now will hinder the spring recovery of lawn grasses and perennial flowers. Remove all plant waste to the compost pile, sprinkle it with fertilizer, soak the pile, and turn it over once each week. The compost will be ready to use by early summer. Otherwise, properly dispose or safely burn the debris according to local ordinances.
Greenhouse: This month, sow impatiens, marigolds, scarlet sage (salvia), zinnias, verbena, speedwell, balsam, and coleus in the greenhouse to transplant in the landscape garden after the last spring frost. Coleus, begonias, and geraniums can also be grown from cuttings. Vegetables to sow now for April transplanting include eggplant, bell peppers and tomatoes.
Groundcovers: Place your lawn mower on the highest setting and mow the mondo grass and liriope later in February. This procedure will allow the plants a fresh start at the beginning of the new season. Apply proper mulch to prevent weeds and add to the curb appeal. In establishing new plantings, select the proper plant materials for the host microenvironment whether sun, shade, or a mix.
Knock-out roses: Knock-out roses can be pruned in February (after the middle of the month). They can be pruned to about one foot from the ground level with 5-7 strong canes. New purchases are either in container or bare root packed. Look at the grade (1, 1.5, 2) and select the one most favorable to you. A grade "1" has better quality than a grade "2", but either works.
Lantana: Lantana can be pruned after the severe weather has passed for the season. They can be pruned to about one foot from the ground level and selecting strong support leaders to start the new generation of growth for the season.
Pets: Continue to monitor the night weather and keep outdoor dog houses warm and clean or bring your outdoor pets inside protecting them from any harsh conditions. They are family and their safety is most important.
Pine cones and sticks: Continue to pick up all pine cones and limb debris from the lawn and landscape bed areas for curb appeal. These items can be used effectively as starter wood for your burn piles and burn barrels.
Valentine's Day is a good timing benchmark to follow in deciding when to begin your basic pruning of roses and lantana, etc., if and only if, all the severe winter weather has passed. Otherwise, wait a week or so because the intact growth will serve as a buffer to protect the rest of the plant from further cold damage.
Late February is usually the time for pruning your summer flowering trees and shrubs, such as crape myrtles and knock-out roses. Just be sure that any extremely cold weather is behind us. This is not the time to prune the needle evergreens.
Get prepared for the upcoming hectic pace that will develop throughout all your yard activities in February and March. Enjoy the remainder of this wintery season with warm clothing, a hot beverage, and a smile. You will enjoy the benefits of your labor throughout the seasons to come through curb appeal, area usage and sustainability. Stay warm and healthy, and have a blessed month!
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1. "He [the Word, the One we know as Jesus,] was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:2-3. "Make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7. "If we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.
Eddie Seagle is a Sustainability Verifier, Golf Environment Organization (Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist, CSI: Seagle (Consulting Services International) LLC, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Alumnus (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning (University System of Georgia) and Short Term Missionary (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to [email protected].