Fort Bend County Master GardenersTrained volunteers assisting Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in educating the community using research-based horticultural information.

This Month in the Garden

February Tasks

We are still in the midst of winter but fortunately our winters are mild compared to those in our Northern states.  Here are some tasks that might keep your gardener engine purring this busy gardening month.

  • Mowing season will begin soon. Are your tools ready? You still have time to do maintenance on your mower, trimmer, and other garden tools. If this seems like a task within your skill level, most manufacturers provide online step-by-step instructions on what to do. Many also provide videos to walk you through each step. If you are still intimidated or just too busy, there are local maintenance shops who can help.
  • You also need to maintain your gardening hand tools. For more information about this, read this step-by-step guide.
  • The average last freeze date in Fort Bend County is February 14th through 18thdepending on where you live in the county. After that date, it is safe to lay new sod. Whether you have just a few places that need to be covered or an entire yard to put down, do it now before it gets too hot! These tips might help.
  • You still have time to put in one last crop of cool season vegetables. Carrots, radishes, lettuce and the like can still be planted before it warms up. Check the vegetable planning guide for details on when various vegetables can be planted.
  • The planting season for warm season vegetables is right around the corner. Before it arrives, clean up the garden beds and prepare them for planting.
  • This is the best time for planting fruit trees. Plan to attend the Fort Bend Master Gardeners Annual Fruit Tree Sale to buy one but, if you miss that, there are other options. (However, the other options
    Ornamental Grass

    Ornamental Grass

    probably won’t include master gardeners’ guidance.) Just make sure to plant it correctly. Use these Earth-Kind® instructions for planting a tree to help ensure success.

  • Trim your perennial ornamental grasses back to 6 – 10 inches tall. This will rejuvenate the grass and make them more attractive when they start growing.
  • This month is a great time to divide your perennial ornamental grasses. Learn how to divide your ornamental grass. Presto! You now have two (or more!) plants where you previously had just one. Then, plant each in the place of your choice.
  • February is the latest month to plant bare-root roses so they can establish a good root season before their growing and blooming seasons. Use this guide for planting roses to answer all your questions.
  • Mulch, mulch, mulch! Experts estimate gardens without mulch lose as much as two-thirds of any water applied through evaporation. An organic mulch, such as shredded bark, helps to enrich the soil with organic matter as it decays making the soil richer over time. The depth of mulch varies depending on the type of mulch applied. Learn more about this Ten Ways to Make Your Landscape Earth-Kind®.
  • While we are anticipating warmer weather, we also need to be thinking about how we will irrigate when it comes. Whether you have an automated irrigation system or not, you will want to learn the Best Management Practices for irrigation.
  • Pruning is probably one of the tasks you want to accomplish this month. It helps keep your trees and shrubs looking healthy and can be good exercise for you. Use these Earth-Kind pruning techniques for best results.
  • Don’t forget to come to the Fort Bend Master Gardeners annual Fruit Tree Sale on 2/8/2020!

February Color in Fort Bend County

In the latter part of the month after the last expected freeze, you can plant tomatoes. If you are starting from seed, the seeds can be started immediately. There are two tomatoes that are recognized as Texas Superstars®: Tycoon Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Tycoon’) and Dwarf Cherry Surprise (Solanum lycopersicum ‘BHN 968’ (syn. ‘Dwarf Cherry Surprise’)).

Photo courtesy of texassuperstar.com

The Tycoon produces a large tomato and is resistant to tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Verticillium, Fusarium races one and two, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and nematodes. You can expect about 25 to 30 pounds of fruit from this hardy plant.

The Dwarf Cherry Surprise produces cherry tomatoes which are four times as sweet as regular cherry tomatoes. It is also very hardy and resistant to Verticillium, Fusarium, Tomato Mosaic Virus, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and nematodes. This tomato is highly recommended for school gardens.

Both plants have these characteristics:

  • Annual plants that grow in full sun in well-drained soil
  • Grow to height of 3 – 4 feet
  • Grow to width of 2 – 3 feet
  • Determinate.

For details about the Tycoon, visit http://texassuperstar.com/plants/tomato_tycoon/index.html. For more information about the Dwarf Cherry Surprise, visit http://texassuperstar.com/plants/tomato_dwarf-cherry-surprise/index.html.

For more information about Texas Superstar® plants, visit http://texassuperstar.com/.

Spring is almost here. Get some February color in your garden with these beauties.Rose

  • Roses (Rosa): As you drive around town, you can see many roses blooming. Once considered difficult to grow, there are now many varieties of roses that are considered easy care with very long bloom seasons. Some are even Earth-Kind®!
  • Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens): This flowering vine is a native evergreen with yellow blooms from winter to early spring.
  • Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima): This deciduous shrub is known for its off-season fragrant blooms that come out in late winter and early spring.
  • Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis): To be honest, this tropical shrub doesn’t have any idea when not to bloom. The good news is its blooms come in many colors and it works well in planters by pools and patios; the bad news is it has thorns and can be a vigorous grower requiring regular pruning.
  • Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense): This evergreen shrub bears white to pink flowers in late winter and early spring. Encourage blooms with small regular pruning.

You are invited to visit the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners’ Demonstration Gardens at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office located at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg to be inspired by what is blooming there. Take a family-friendly, self-guided tour through the gardens during daylight hours, open seven days a week. Be sure to take a copy of the garden maps and garden information located throughout the gardens.  Visit https://fbmg.org/demonstration-gardens/ for more information about our Demonstration Gardens.

Past Monthly Tasks