February/March Newsletter

As the snowfalls and the winter winds blow one can’t help but to dream of spring. February is a great month to do those rainy day chores such as cleaning your gardening tools, sharpening your pruning gear and if you’re a gardener who starts their own transplants February is a great month to write out a seeding schedule, set up grow lights, etc.

Cleaning your trowels, cultivators and shovels is a great preventive for transferring insects and diseases from one season into the next. Once the tools are thoroughly cleaned with soap and water they should have a ten minute dip in a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water). Once they have dried completely they should be oiled, this will help extend the life of the tools.

Sharpening your pruning tools, loppers, shears, hand pruners etc. will get you off to a flying start in the spring. First of all sharp tools prevent injury to the tree or shrub you are pruning. Cutting with sharp tools also takes less effort from you decreasing your risk of hand or wrist injury. It wouldn’t hurt sharpen the edges of your trowels and shovels while your at it.

It may be a little too soon to actually start your transplants but checking the seed packages for maturity times and writing out a schedule will certainly work to your advantage. There is nothing worse then seedling ten inches tall and a risk of frost for the next two weeks.

As for the garden center there are all kinds of exciting things that happen during late February and March. The greenhouses are keeping the tropicals nice and warm, what an experience to walk in there on a cold day and feel the warmth and see all the lush green foliage surrounding you. We are anxiously awaiting our first shipment of annual plugs (rooted cuttings) which we will immediately plant in four inch pots to later be planted into hanging baskets for Mothers Day. Around mid March all of the other annuals and perennial plugs will arrive, along with thousands of bareroot perennials and 750 bareroot roses. It is a very busy time for us but one thing is for sure, once those plants start coming spring is not far off so don’t despair no matter how cold it is or how much snow falls spring really is just around the corner.