February Gardening Calendar 2026

 

February Gardening Calendar 2026

Spring is near when the Daffodils start blooming.

 

This winter has come in with a vengeance bringing snow to parts of the United States that usually will receive no snow at all. As I write, North Carolina received more snow last night and the state hadn’t finished cleaning up since the last storm. Gardening is the last thing on anybody’s mind right now. As the snow melts and the temperatures begin to rise we gardener’s can start focusing on our gardens. Successful gardening depends on the timing of when you plant and prune established and new plants. Here are a few suggestions to do in February when your weather permits.

Trees and Shrubs can be planted now. This is the best time to plant Nut Trees, Fruit Trees, Shade Trees, and shrubs. By applying a combination of Super Thrive and Recharge by Real Growers instead of a root stimulator will get your newly planted trees and shrubs established much faster. Prune Apple and Pear trees after bud break in February, wait until mid-March for Peach trees. Spray fruit and nut trees with a horticulture grade dormant oil before bud break. Remove stakes, trunk wraps, and guy wires from trees planted 18 months ago. 18-24 months is the average time you need to keep the guy wires. Pruning fig trees save the horizontal branches, they are the branches that produce fruit. Is your Burford Holly overgrown? Now is a good time to severely prune back. Burford Hollies can be prune back to 24 to 48 inches. Butterfly bushes can be pruned back by ½ the original height. You will be rewarded with bigger blooms this summer.

Annuals cool season annuals can be planted, pansy, violas, sweet alyssum, pinks, stocks, snapdragons. Cool season annuals will provide lots of color until end of May or June. These annuals can be planted in the soil or containers.

Perennials trim back all the brown. This month is a good time to divide all perennials, if necessary. Apply a fresh layer of mulch.

Roses Prune back rose bushes to about 18 to 24 inches. The best time to prune is between February 14 – 22^th. Rake any leaves still on the ground underneath your rose bushes and give a fresh layer of mulch. If you had any black spot last year it is very important to rake the leaves and throw the leaves away and give a fresh layer of mulch. For more information on roses and rose care Click Here.

Lawns apply a pre-emergent to your lawn to prevent dormant weed seeds from germinating during the growing season. Most pre-emergents last about 3 to 4 months. There are weed and feed fertilizers that will fertilize the lawn and prevent weed seeds from germinating.

Vegetables cool season veggies like lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, asparagus, elephant garlic, garlic, snow peas, spinach, and strawberries can still be planted. To get a head start on your spring garden start thinking about planting your spring vegetable garden from seeds now. Organically grown Lettuce image left. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012. Organically grown Tomatoes image below ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012 

Ornamental Grasses can be pruned back to 12 inches. Liriope that looks a little be draggled can be trimmed back, too. Prune back before the grass comes out of dormancy.

Houseplants In the winter months houseplants usually don’t require as much water as in the spring and summer months indoors. The reason is that the houseplant do not receive as much sunlight because of shorter and more cloudy days associated with the winter months.  Water with a houseplant fertilizer one half strength and turn your plants a ¼ to a ½ turn every week. By doing this the plant does not grow towards the light. For more information on Houseplants and their care purchase my book sold on Hibiscus And More. https://www.hibiscusandmore.com/product/grow-fresh-air Purchase here on the link provided.

Need more gardening advice? Ask your Questions Here. Follow our BlogSpot for current sales, daily specials, and sound gardening advice. Simply click on Join This Site Link under Followers. Sign Up Is Free.

All photographs maybe purchased as fine art prints at HibiscusandMore.com  

Cheryl’s Fine Art Photography is on Merchandise Greeting Cards and more

Cheryl’s gardening books are featured below and may be purchased at www.hibiscusandmore.com

Butterfly Gardening Book

Houseplants - Grow Fresh Air Book

Landscape Gardening Book

Need floral and Botanical stock photography?

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/Cheryl

https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/CherylMeola

Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.

Building a Greener Tomorrow

 

Image via Pexels

Building a Greener Tomorrow: Practical Ways to Transform Your Community

When it comes to making meaningful environmental change, there’s something uniquely powerful about starting local. The neighborhood you call home holds immense potential for progress, and your voice can be the catalyst for that shift. Greening your community isn’t about drastic overhauls or expensive investments—it’s about creating accessible habits, smarter systems, and tighter bonds between people and the land they share.

Grow Where You Live

Encouraging local food production does more than just fill plates with fresh produce—it stitches communities together. Whether it’s a backyard garden, rooftop planters, or a shared plot in a community garden, the act of growing food promotes healthier eating and reduces dependence on long-distance food transport. Organize workshops or seed swaps to empower more neighbors to dig in, especially those new to gardening or short on space. If you create a few visible, shared spaces where green things are growing, others will be inspired to follow suit.

Turn Scraps into Soil

There’s a quiet magic in composting that turns yesterday’s peels and coffee grounds into tomorrow’s soil. By encouraging households and local businesses to compost their organic waste, you help reduce landfill burden and methane emissions while enriching local soil. Coordinate with city officials or nonprofits to introduce curbside compost pickup or neighborhood compost bins if it doesn’t already exist. Even apartment dwellers can contribute with countertop composting systems or communal drop-off points, making participation easy regardless of living situation. 

Launching Your Eco-Friendly Landscaping Service

Starting your own eco-friendly landscaping business is a smart way to combine your love for the outdoors with a growing demand for sustainable services. Focus on practices like native plant installations, organic lawn care, and water-efficient irrigation systems that reduce harm to the environment while still delivering curb appeal. Word-of-mouth can be powerful in this niche, especially if your early projects show a clear blend of beauty and responsibility.

Make Recycling More Than Just a Blue Bin

Recycling works best when everyone understands what goes where—and when systems are simple and trusted. Set up community education campaigns to demystify recycling rules, like which plastics are accepted and why bagging recyclables can be counterproductive. Collaborate with your local waste management authority to host open house tours of recycling centers or info booths at public events. When people can see the process and understand its impact, they’re more likely to commit to doing it right.

Pave the Way for Cleaner Transport

Green transportation doesn’t have to mean giving up cars entirely, but it does mean expanding what’s considered normal. Advocate for bike lanes that feel safe and protected, and install bike racks around local businesses and public buildings. Help promote transit options by putting up readable, friendly bus maps in central locations or launching a local carpool group for school and work commuters. The goal is to make walking, biking, and riding the bus not just a last resort—but a smart, stylish, and convenient choice.

Bring Down the Energy Bill

Reducing energy use at home and in local businesses can have a huge ripple effect if enough people join in. Start by organizing neighborhood energy audits or DIY workshops on sealing drafts, installing LED lights, and using smart thermostats. Encourage landlords and building managers to invest in better insulation and energy-efficient appliances by showing them how it saves money long-term. Small upgrades become powerful when multiplied across a community, especially in older neighborhoods where energy waste can quietly skyrocket.

Support Green-Minded Businesses

Your dollars have power, and how they’re spent locally shapes your area’s economy and its carbon footprint. Spotlight local businesses that prioritize sustainability—whether it’s through plastic-free packaging, locally sourced ingredients, or energy-conscious operations—and give them a platform through newsletters, social media, or events. Work with chambers of commerce or small business networks to create a “green business directory” to guide residents toward eco-conscious options.

Making your community greener isn’t about perfection—it’s about momentum. Every compost bin, every bike lane, every energy-saving lightbulb adds up to a quieter, cleaner, more connected place to live. More importantly, these actions remind people that they’re not alone in caring about the planet. Your role is to help light the spark, offer tools, and create space for others to join in. The rest? It grows naturally.

Discover the beauty of nature with Hibiscus and More, where you can explore a stunning collection of fine art prints and greeting cards perfect for any occasion!

Hibiscus and More has written several books on gardening available on the website Click on Gardening Books to view. Landscape Gardening, Butterfly Gardening, and Houseplants.

Need floral stock photography?

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/Cheryl

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

©Carrie Spencer 2025