10 Tips for the February Gardener

1. Visit our booth at the 2015 CT Flower and Garden Show, February 19th-22nd, at the Connecticut Convention Center. Bring ½ cup of soil for a free pH test and your gardening questions for free advice.

2. Provide houseplants with increased humidity by misting often or placing plants over a tray of moist pebbles. Clean the leaves of smooth-leaved plants like dracaena, philodendron, and ficus of dust.

3. Purchase seed flats, containers, and peat pellets. Make your own seed starter mix by combining equal parts of sphagnum peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.

4. If you start your seeds under fluorescent lights check the ends of the tubes for dark rings. This is a sign of aging and they should be replaced. Dispose of the used tubes properly.

5. Start slow growers such as celery, leek, or onion transplants. This is also a good time to start petunias and begonias. Consider using pelletized seed.

6. Check any plants that are being overwintered in the cellar or garage to see if they need water. If the soil is frozen they may need to be moved to a slightly warmer location.

7. Birdwatchers – if you missed Cornell’s Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb 13 – 16th, visit http://gbbc.birdcount.org - you can still enter data through February 28th.

8. Look for tan gypsy moth egg masses on tree trunks and branches. Scrape or brush off the masses to remove them and then destroy them.

9. Check on perennials, adding mulch if needed.

10. Turn the compost pile during any stretches of mild weather.

For more information visit the UConn Home & Garden Education Center.