Galanthus (Snowdrops)
Sharpen Tools
It may sound like dreary work, but sharpen your tools in the warmth of the basement. Put a nice edge on pruners, hoes, grass shears, and shovels; then coat the blades with a light coating of oil or petroleum jelly. Always clean your tools with alcohol before sharpening and always clean them when you are done using them , incase there is a disease on them that will spread to other plants from your tools.
Get Seeds Ready for Spring Planting
Take stock of your seeds and plan what you need for this year's garden. Most garden centers have their seeds out by February, so buy early and beat the rush. Test old seeds for germination,or throw them away, that way you get to try the new varieties.
Start Onions, Leeks, and Chives
Get onions, chives, and leeks ready for seeding in early February. These seeds don't keep well, so it's best to start with brand new seeds. Make sure to use clean seed-starting mix, cover with milled sphagnum moss, and trim the tops of the seedlings regularly to keep them sturdy.
Make Cuttings of Geraniums
Geraniums that you brought indoors this winter are probably getting tall and leggy by now if they're not growing under artificial grow lights. Prune back errant branches and take 4- to 6-inch cuttings to root. Strip off the bottom set of leaves, dip the cut ends in rooting hormone powder, and stick the cuttings in a pot filled with moistened potting soil. Keep the soil moist, and they should root in a few weeks
Apply Dormant Oil Sprays
Spray deciduous fruit trees with horticultural oil to kill any over wintering insects such as scale and aphids. Spray on a calm, dry, day with temperatures above 45F. Spray until the oil begins to drip off the branches.
That is a wrap for today, so until the next time be well and be safe.
Happy Gardening!
1 comment:
Sharpening tools...ugh...I'd rather just buy new ones, LOL, but I do have a good set of pruners now, so you are right. Sharpen away.
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