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We’re nearing the end of winter. That means you can start prepping your garden for spring growth and cool-weather plants. Even though there may still be snow on the ground and the weather might not be the best, there are still things you can do to get your garden ready for spring.
Depending on which state you reside in dictates how much flexibility you have with late winter weather and your garden. If it’s a milder winter with not too much rain or snow, you may be in luck.
Here are seven things you can do to your garden during February:
Typically, summer bulbs are planted and prepared in late fall or early February. However, if you missed your opportunity and still want a pop of color in your garden, there are a few bulbs you can plant in February that can flourish in the springtime.
Here are a few that we recommend:
Please keep in mind their survival will depend on what state you’re located in and the weather conditions. To thrive during late winter bulbs need mild winter weather with low levels of snow and rain.
If your soil is frozen over or it’s raining consistently, you’ll want to start your bulbs off indoors in containers. Make sure that your bulbs are in a good place that is getting plenty of sunlight. If not, you may need to invest in some grow lights.
You can also consider utilizing a Seed Germination Kit to get the results you want to see in late winter. Seeds and plants are influenced by microbiome health. Microbes are great for increasing nutrient cycling, water permeability, and the availability of nutrients and water needed for seed growth and vigorous seedling growth.
Did you know food sources for birds begin to thin out during late winter? Because of this, it’s good to restock on bird feed and keep your bird feeders full of food for the birds to get through the late months of winter! This can help attract more birds towards your garden and keep them around in the spring.
Start Seeds Indoors
If you want to get a head start on your fruits and vegetables, you can begin planting the seeds indoors. Similar to the flower bulbs, we recommend starting your seeds in containers in your house and keeping the amount of sunlight in mind. You can use small cups, compressed peat moss disks, egg cartons, half of an empty egg shell, or anything else that is germ-free that has holes for adequate drainage, and that won't deteriorate during the germination process when exposed to water, heat or light. Before you start planting all of your seeds in your house, consider the instructions on the seed packets.
Prune Your Trees, Roses, and Shrubs
The best time to start pruning certain plants is late winter. To start, look for weak or broken limbs on your trees to allow for healthy branches to grow. You’ll also want to prune your roses and shrubs. When it comes to the roses, you’ll want to be careful when cutting. Make sure you’re cutting at a slant above the good buds to allow for optimal growth.
Ready to get a headstart on your spring garden? The great news is, some vegetables do great in milder winter regions and are ready to be planted during February.
Here are a few you can start planting today:
We always recommend paying attention to your unique geographic weather patterns. If it’s a really cold winter, some cool weather crops won’t survive. Give your garden the health fix it needs to thrive during late winter with
EM® Bokashi or our Dynamic Garden Duo. Combining the powers of EM-1 and EM Bokashi can help your plants grow more vigorously and robustly. Together, bokashi creates the space for your plants to grow better root structures and, the effective microorganisms in EM-1 provide nutrients directly to the plant roots.
If you're looking to bring a lot of plants indoors before the warmer weather arrives, you’ll want to inspect the plants you currently have indoors for bugs and pests. Pay attention to any changes in leaf color or the texture of your plants. If you see any unfamiliar spotting or yellowing, this could be from an insect or pest infestation. We recommend taking a look at the top and undersides of the leaves and examining all parts.
If you want to prevent your indoor house plants from bringing pests indoors, start inspecting them at the beginning of the season before bringing them in for the winter.
Pull The Weeds
It’s time to start cleaning up your garden and prepare for the better weather ahead! Some gardens tend to see an increase in weeds during the winter months. Don’t panic, this is normal! Since you’ve probably spent the winter months curled up in your house rather than in your garden, there is sure to be an increase in weeds. February is the perfect time to get back out there and pull as many weeds as you can. As the weather starts to get progressively better, you’ll want your garden to look its best.
Just because the weather isn’t in your garden’s favor: doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing for springtime weather. From cool weather crops to summer bulbs, there are things you can start doing today to prepare for spring.
As you plan and prepare your seeds and soil, we always recommend taking a look at our TeraGanix products that can help elevate your garden. From EM-1 to EM-Bokashi to soil germination, we have a product that can help your garden thrive in ways you never thought were possible.