BY JED SMART
Guest Columnist
A Valentine to Your Yard!
Hello, Everyone! I hope you’re doing well and staying afloat during all of the rain we’ve been experiencing. While you’re waiting for warmer and dryer days, take some time to perform a few tasks in your yard. This will ensure that you are ready for your best yard yet come spring and summer!
Your Extension offers a great resource in its Alabama Gardening Calendar. This calendar breaks down, month-by-month, areas you should address in your home grounds. If you need more information on how to perform any of these tasks, contact our office and we can get you in touch with one of our agents or specialists. Here’s an outline of the February home grounds recommendations:
Fruits and Nuts
• Planting season continues for dormant trees.
• Fertilize fruit trees.
• Apply half of the fertilizer recommended for grapes now; apply the other half soon after fruit sets.
• Continue dormant pruning and grafting. Start strawberry plantings.
Shrubs
• Planting season continues.
• Visit camellia shows to learn of hardy varieties in your area.
• Graft camellias in central and south Alabama.
• Spray all shrubs with a fungicide before new growth starts.
• Prune all shrubs before new growth starts.
• Don’t prune early-blooming species because flower buds will be removed.
See complete story in the Pickens County Herald.
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