In February, gardeners can begin preparing for the upcoming season by pruning trees and shrubs, starting seeds indoors, and organizing their planting schedules. It’s also a good time to clean tools, amend the soil with compost, and tackle early weeds before they take hold. Read on for more winter gardening tips!

Plant Doctor Quips

Nick Macaluso, from our Pyramid Way store explains, “Mid to late February is a great time to prune your trees, that is if the weather permits. When pruning trees it is important to remove any branches that are rubbing and or crossing, anything that is growing down or straight up, and diseased or dead branches. Remember to never remove more than twenty five percent of the live wood per year. Removing too much living wood can be detrimental to your tree’s health. You can however, remove as much dead wood as you want. Bending the tips of the branches slightly is a great way to check to see if a branch is dead. If the tip breaks without much bend then the branch is likely dead. Scratching the surface of the bark with your fingernail or a knife works as well, living tissue will be green. Make sure to clean your pruners every time you are pruning a new plant. This will help to prevent the spread of disease. I spray Lysol on a clean rag and use that to disinfect my pruners. If you need to make larger cuts on your tree please contact an expert, not only your safety but also the tree’s well being. Any of our plant doctors would be more than happy to give you advice on what to cut and where to cut your trees.“

Steve Packer, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, says, “Last year around this time I got my wife a tropical indoor plant with beautiful flowers that made an ideal gift for Valentine’s day…(Hint Hint). This sweetheart of a plant has bloomed abundantly since the day my wife received it and has been so easy to care for. So, what plant might you say that I am talking about? Why is it the Anthurium plant. The Anthurium is an exotic-looking plant with showy red, pink, or white flowers and glossy green leaves. The blooms can last for months, with the large, heart-shaped spathes adding bold color to indoor spaces. Commonly called flamingo flower, this tropical plant makes an excellent houseplant thriving in a site with bright, indirect light (it can tolerate low light but won’t bloom as much). It likes indoor temps around 60 to 75 degrees. Water the flamingo flower based on need, not a schedule. Check plants weekly by touching the top of the soil to gauge soil moisture. If the surface of the soil is dry, push your finger about an inch into the growing medium. If it’s also dry an inch down, it’s time to water. Fertilize with a 20 20 20 orchid food during the Spring and Summer months when it is actively growing. These are relatively slow growing plants but every three to four years they’ll need to be repotted. Looking to add a tropical flare to your indoor, home landscape? The Flamingo Flower plant is the answer.”

Jeni Ware, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, says, “This is a good time to apply pre-emergent to save yourself from fighting weeds later. Future you will be thankful. Apply the Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper to prevent weed grasses in your lawn (established lawns only). For flower beds and raised vegetable beds, you can apply Hi-Yield Herbicide Granules Weed and Grass Preventer (not for use on lawns). Always read the instructions and take care to follow directions. These two products will not affect any weeds that have already germinated (sprouted).“

Bird Nerd, Annemarie Tillotson explains, “Not only is keeping feeders full critical to the survival of your birds, but so is maintaining cleanliness standards. With heightened feeder activity, aim to clean your feeders every two weeks. Long feeder brushes make cleaning the inside of tube feeders easy and be sure to clean feeder perches as well. If feeding a seed blend with shells, rake or sweep underneath feeder stations to ensure all empty shells are cleaned up and not left to attract unwanted critters.“

Rob Bouck, from our Moana Lane store, explains, “At this time of year, many of our indoor plants or seedling starts benefit from additional light sources – – namely, grow lights. When choosing a grow light, consider things like light spectrum, light intensity, heat output, efficacy or how efficiently a light converts power into light, and type of light. A grow light should provide the right spectrum for photosynthesis, which is key for plant growth. A full spectrum is ideal, and LED lights are a good option because most offer this. Violet-blue light promotes growth, while red light promotes budding. Many of the grow lights, such as the Mossify Adjustable LED plant lights Moana carries, offer a built-in automatic timer, adjustable brightness, adjustable height, and are ideal for a wide variety of houseplants and seed starts.“

February
Moana Nursery High Desert Gardening
Timely Tips

  • To keep cut flowers fresh, place them in room-temperature water as soon as possible. Make an angled cut with a clean, sharp knife, removing 1 inch from each stem. Make this cut while the stems are under water. Add floral preservatives to the vase water to discourage bacteria. Remove all foliage below water level. * If you get flowers from the Florist at Moana, they come pre-treated with floral preservatives, so you can skip that step!*
  • Flowers should be kept in a cool, humid environment and be kept out of bright light and away from heating vents. Mist the air around the arrangement and change water daily.
  • Keep flowers away from a bowl of fruit or vegetables since the ethylene gas emitted by ripening fruit can damage the flowers, as can cigarette smoke.
  • Monitor houseplants for insect problems that often occur when plants become stressed due to insufficient light, overheated rooms or improper watering and fertilizing techniques.  Isolate new houseplants or gift plants before adding to your existing plants.  Pests to look for include spider mites, thrips, scale, mealybugs, whitefly and fungus gnats. Moana recommends Bonide Insecticidal Soap and Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Granules (not for indoor citrus) for most insects. Use Monterey Horticultural Oil to control spider mites on indoor citrus. Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew is easy to apply and great for control of thrips and spider mites.
  • Most houseplants require less water and much less, if any, fertilizer, because they slow their growth during their semi-dormant winter period.
  • Wipe dust off houseplants; clean plants are healthier and less susceptible to disease and pest infestations. We the Wild Protect Neem Oil is the perfect all purpose pest preventative care – especially when paired with the We the Wild Leaf Care Gloves – and it adds a great shine to leaves.
  • Participate in the Annual Great Back Yard Bird Count February 14-17, 2025 – a great family activity!  Please visit the official website at:  http://gbbc.birdcount.org/about/ for more information.
  • Another great birding and nature event is Eagles & Agriculture in the Carson Valley, February 6th – 9th, 2025. Find out more here.
  • Put out apple pieces, raisins soaked in water, grapes & other fruit in hanging fruit feeders or open trays to attract American robins, cedar waxwings, finches, mockingbirds and more.
  • Provide birds with  high fat, high calorie foods like Nyjer®, premium sunflower, peanuts, Winter SuperBlend and suet to help them stay warm.  These foods are especially important in extreme cold or when there is a heavy snowfall.
  • Install a clear plastic weather dome to protect tube feeders from rain and snow.
  • Put out suet, mealworms, and Jim’s Birdacious® Bark Butter® to attract insect-eating birds like northern flickers, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, bushtits, kinglets and yellow-rumped warblers.
  • Continue to supply fresh water in a heated bird bath or add a de-icer to a frost-proof bird bath to ensure a steady supply of water. 
  • Clean bird feeders and bird baths regularly, and keep food fresh and dry. A weak bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts will help prevent the spread of disease.
  • Store bird food in a sealed container and keep in a cool dry place to prevent spoilage.
  • Install a customized Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding station where you can easily enjoy the birds it attracts.  It can be installed in the ground, on a deck railing or on a hard surface like a patio, wooden deck or pavers.
  • Check soil moisture around all your plants; with the relatively dry winter and spotty precipitation we’ve had this winter, you may find dry areas around at least some of your plants. Water accordingly, click here for more info and tips on winter watering.
  • Purchase vegetable and flower seeds now while selection is broad.
  • Start seeds for spring or summer-blooming annuals, vegetables, herbs, and perennials. Follow the directions on individual seed packets for requirements for bottom heat, light or darkness. Some seeds might require a short period of chilling before being sown.
  • Continue to check plants for signs of damage from animals or weather.
  • To prevent weeds, apply Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed and Grass Stopper or Hi-Yield Herbicide Granules Weed & Grass Preventer pre-emergent herbicide to planting beds when you see early signs of spring such as crocus emerging or the forsythia blooming – applying at this time will control many cool season weeds.
  • To control both grassy and broadleaf weeds in lawns, apply Bonide Weedbeater Complete, a pre-emergent and post-emergent, in late February or early March as weather permits. Apply in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hrs. For best results, apply to a damp lawn and after 48 hrs water it in.
  • To control any boring or leaf feeding insects such as bronze birch borer & elm leaf beetle and aphids in trees and shrubs, apply Fertilome Tree & Shrub Drench now. Be sure the ground is moist, but not frozen before applying. Follow up with proper winter watering three to four weeks later. We do not recommend using this product on any edible fruiting trees and avoid using when bees are foraging. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL BEFORE APPLYING ANY PESTICIDE!
  • Prune fruit trees in late February or early March.
  • Heavy (no more than 25% by volume) pruning of large woody plants can be done this month as weather permits. Prune large spring flowering trees and shrubs after they bloom.
  • Immediately prune out broken or damaged branches.
  • When pruning trees in your landscape, keep in mind that maple, elm, birch and others may produce copious amounts of sap when pruned at this time of year.
  • Inspect trees for frost cracks or sunscald injury. 
  • Apply Monterey Horticultural Oil to trees and shrubs to prevent insect infestations; we recommend you buy the concentrate, read the directions and mix to a dormant rate concentration. Combine Monterey Liqui-Cop with Monterey Horticultural Oil to control leaf diseases such as peach leaf curl and powdery mildew.
  • If we get any late winter snow storms, be sure to remove heavy snow loads from evergreen branches by gently sweeping snow off with a broom. If branches have been anchored to the ground, gently lift them from underneath with a broom. Avoid beating tree branches with any heavy tools.
  • Allow any ice that accumulates on tree branches to melt. Cracking ice with heavy objects should be avoided. You may see ice on your plants even without rain or snowfall.
  • Our Seasonal Color Team can help you with custom containers, annual planting beds or a simple refresh of your existing garden. Schedule a free consultation today!
  • Need help with your indoor plants? Contact our Interior Plant Services team. They can help you design, install, and maintain your indoor plants! Want a WOW plant presentation? Ask about installing a LIVING PLANT WALL! Examples of plant walls are available to see at both our Moana Lane and Pyramid Way locations.
  • Schedule supplemental winter watering for your trees and shrubs by hand or mobile water truck from Landscape Services call 775-825-0602 x104.
  • Our expert Plant Doctors can help you with your high desert gardening;
    • Diagnose disease & insect problems on trees, shrubs & lawns;
    • Identify existing plants in your landscape and how to care for them;
    • Provide plant placement for DIY customers.
    • Stop by any location to ask questions or email plantdoctor@moananursery.com.