1.

For exquisite shade color this spring and summer start tuberous begonias indoors in moist peatmoss. Do not bury the tops. Plant outside once the frost is past.

2.

Place three inches of mulch around trees, shrubs and flower beds to keep weeds under control. Keep the mulch away from the trunks of trees and shrubs as well as the stems of bedding plants.

3.

Plant a grapevine on fence or arbor for shade and sweet fruit this summer.

4.

Remove old flowers on camellias and azaleas to reduce the chance of petal blight.

1.

February is your last chance for dormant spraying. Dormant spraying controls insects that hibernate during the winter and fungal diseases such as peach leaf curl.

2.

Plant lilac, forsythia, weigela, and quince for early spring flowers.

3.

Azaleas are starting to bloom now. Come to your local garden center for the best selections.

4.

Check with your local garden center for a blooming token of your love this Valentine Day.

1.

Get a jump on aphid this year. Check with your local California Certified Nursery Professional for effective controls.

2.

Use polymers with all your indoor and outdoor plants. The tiny granules expand to hold water, becoming a reservoir for thirsty roots. It makes a huge difference on water consumption.

3.

As flower petals fall, spray apple trees with sevin and a wetting agent. Follow up with additional treatment when fruits are the same size as a dime, quarter and half-dollar.

4.

Plant perennials now for texture and flowers through the spring and summer.

1.

Crabgrass and spotted spurge can be prevented with applications of a pre-emergence weed control and fertilizer. Check with your local California Certified Nursery person for recommendations.

2.

4.

Before planting your flowerbeds, condition them with the addition of soil amendments and fertilizers.

1.

Divide overcrowded perennials this month.

2.

Think spring! Plant annual bedding plants such as petunias, marigolds, and lobelia for beautiful flowerbeds.

3.

Apply chelated iron to azaleas, citrus and gardenias to keep them green.

4.

Choose dahlia bulbs now for a rich array of color and different flower forms in your garden. You can plant them in late March and April.