Prescott Garden Keeping - February Edition

A few days ago I was chatting with a local friend who was sharing how she "could not wait" to get going with her annuals in her garden now that it was starting to warm up.

I know the feeling!  That's why winter here is typically so pleasant... even though we get those snow storms and cold, grey days we are blessed with these breaks where the sun shines and the air warms just close enough to sweater weather that you feel like spring is on its way.

This year, of course, has been a big exception to that typical weather pattern, so far anyway.  It's been gorgeous, don't get me wrong.  But it's time for some winter!!

And, it's only the first week of February.  Don't be fooled.  We will still have winter lows and weeks here and there of full-on winter weather for a couple more months.  And our last frost date is right around Mother's Day.  

It was hard to break it to my friend who was so excited and from Minnesota.  

The consolation is that there is a ton of fun pre-season stuff to work on right now to get everything ready for the season.

During this "dormant" season, don't be fooled into thinking that there's nothing going on in the garden over the winter!  In fact, while the pace slows down significantly, this is often the best time to build the basis for a hugely successful and healthy landscape in the coming season.  Plus, spreading out the work over several months makes it a bit less taxing on you.
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We don't do garden maintenance at The Whiskey Porch, but I wanted to put together a series of garden keeping checklists to help keep you on track.  Whether you are going to do it all yourself, or bring in a maintenance crew to do much of it for you, these monthly guides should be useful to you if you live in and around Prescott, AZ.

All of these checklists are very specific to the micro-climate that I am in here in downtown Prescott.  So, there will be slight variations for you depending on your specific location, as well as what you grow.  Generally speaking, these lists will relate to USDA Zone 7b.  Learn more about our Garden Zone.

Each year can bring a slightly different cycle to the seasons.  Sometimes we have our first hard freeze in late October, but most often not until early December.  Keep this in mind when planning your monthly tasks.

These checklists apply generally to a landscape garden which includes primarily perennials, as well as veggies and herbs.  

​Let's get to it.

​PLANTS & PLANTING  🌱

• Plant bareroot trees, roses and shrubs
• Sow summer blooming wildflower seeds
  
• Direct sow seeds for fava beans, poppy, larkspur, pansy and viola
  
• Begin transplanting peas, potatoes, onions, garlic, artichoke, chard and asparagus
  
• Sow seeds for peas, radish, carrots, lettuce, cabbage indoors

WATER  💦 

• Water twice this month if we don't get decent rain or snow.  If you can fire up your drip system do so, and then shut it back down.  Else, just do it by hand.  This one is SUPER important when we have warm/dry winters like this one's been so far!
• Take advantage of the slower month and clean, repair, make adjustments to your drip systems now.

​CRITTERS 🦌

• Stay vigilant as buds start to swell, for roaming deer and javalena - apply repellents or fence off to protect.

​MAINTENANCE  ✂️

• Prepare beds with soil and well-composted organic matter/top dress.  Its best to finish this early in the month so that everything has a chance to rest and settle in before sowing seeds or putting out transplants.
  
• Apply weed & grass pre-emergent now - before the weeds sprout!  If they beat you to it, pull them quickly, before they seed.
  
• Finish pruning fruit trees/shrubs, grapes, brambles and spray with dormant oil if pests are an issue.  Don't prune any spring blooming shrubs until after they  have bloomed thought!  You should complete this task ahead of buds opening in the spring, while the plants are still dormant.  Typically best to not prune more than 1/4 of each total plant.
  
• This is the perfect time to clean, sort and sharpen your gardening tools before all the action begins
  
• If you need to purchase or repair any equipment/tools, do it now before the crowds start to do the same
  
• Finish dividing autumn blooming perennials
  
• Finish pruning roses.  Begin a light feeding late in the month.

​OTHER  📝

• Finish placing all your seed, bulb, and plant orders so that you don't miss out on what you're dreaming of growing
• ​Finish putting your planting layout together so that you are sure everything you are starting will have a place to go.  Relocate any perennials that need to be shifted now, while still dormant.
• Be sure your seed packets are sorted and organized so you can find what you need as the season gets started

​GARDEN KEEPING JOURNAL ☑️

Find all the other monthly checklists (as they are published each month this first year) here:

Monthly Checklists

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Need more tips and inspiration?

You can find lots more good stuff and inspiration on our Garden Resources page if you'd like to start dreaming about next season!

Cottage Garden Resources

There it is - thanks so much for reading.  I have a full year's worth of checklists up for you to review.  And I review and update them each year.  Let me know if have any other items you typically do annually in February - I'd love to hear!

Peace  & Contentment,
~Miriam