February Garden Checklist: Tasks & DIY Projects

There’s a saying that February is both the shortest and longest month of the year. And for cold climate gardeners it means the growing season is still a few months away. These February tasks will help keep your garden spirit alive.

For more ideas also on getting a jump-start on the growing season, also see January Garden Tasks & DIY Projects or jump ahead to March here.

---

February Garden Checklist

Spring is coming! But not yet. As the days grow longer it’s easy to get excited about the growing season ahead but the cold temperatures say otherwise.

Let’s look at things we can do now to prepare for the garden season ahead.

I’ve organized these tips and projects into categories: Grow, Make, and Ideas.

---

Grow

Planting, Sowing, & Preparations

Indoors

• If you haven’t done so, get your grow lights and seed starting supplies ready.
• Depending on your average last frost date, it may be time to start flower and vegetable seeds.
• You can also grow vegetables indoors all the way to harvest.
• Force (grow) indoor flowering bulbs including paperwhites, amaryllis, and more.
• As soon as buds start appearing, you can also force branches from flowering shrubs and trees indoors.
• Grow an avocado from seed. This method is easy and fool-proof.
• Love orchids? My mom shares her best tips for beginner orchid growers.

Recommended Resource

---

Outdoors

• Check on planters in winter storage. Keep lightly watered and mouse-proof.
• Take care of your winter vegetable garden. Water the soil. Remove covers on warm days.
• The right timing for pruning trees and shrubs is different for each species. Put reminders in your calendar so you catch what’s needed in your garden. Late winter apple tree pruning is on my list.
• Continue keeping food scraps for compost using the easy winter compost method. Unless frozen, turn your compost pile when you can.
• Want to tap trees for syrup? Get your supplies ready for next month.

Pond

• Make sure your pond does not freeze over. I keep a pump running, use deicers, and keep a hole open in the ice.

Wildlife

• Provide homemade peanut butter suet at bird feeders along with fresh, running water.
• Make sure nesting boxes are ready for bird mating season.
• Wash your bird feeders and suet cages to prevent the spread of disease.

---

Make

Creative Winter Projects

Whether or not you’re a fan of cold weather, you have to admit that fresh fallen snow is beautiful! Glistening snow. Bright sunshine. Quiet. Birds. I love it all.

Here are some project ideas.

• Create outdoor garden art (here’s some ideas) so it’s ready to go in spring.
• Make hose guards to protect your bedding plants.
• Prepare plant tags and markers.
• Check if your seeds in storage are still viable.

---

Ideas

Dream & Scheme

• Plan your garden for the season ahead.
• Would you like a cottage-style garden overflowing with flowers?
• Or perhaps you will grow your own plants for fresh-brewed tea.
• Order bare-roots plants including asparagus and cane fruits (they are shipped at planting time).
• Order seeds for indoor sowing.
• Get seed starting mix and organic container mix so you’re ready to sow.

---

---

---

Observe & Enjoy

You may not know it by the name phenology, but you certainly know what it is. Phenology is the science of observing annual first events in nature.  

When flower buds open. When peepers first peep. When bees appear. When migrations arrive. When bulbs pop up. The list is endless.

Seasonal changes prompt natural responses in the plant and animal kingdoms. It is interesting to note these events and compare them year over year.

While spring brings a flourish of activity, winter has its own rhythm.

Winter Phenological Events

Here in Ontario, this tends to be our coldest and snowiest month of the year. These are some familiar phenological observations.

• Trees are bare and perennials are dormant.
• Birds are relying on seed pods for nourishment.
• Nuthatches and chickadees rediscover seeds they have hidden in tree bark!
• With the gradual return of the sun, warmer days entice social gatherings for wildlife. Birds, squirrels, and chipmunks, all become more active. On warmer days, pond fish move around more.
• A few consecutive warm days cause spring bulbs like crocuses and snowdrops to make an early appearance.

---

Resources

Happy February!

If it’s not your favorite time, keep strong! It will be over before you know it and spring is on the way.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛