Gardening Tips for February for Mexico, MO

Midwest Region

• Finish ordering vegetable seeds. Share seed orders with a friend.
• Look for good locations to plant flowers, and shrubs or to place container flowers in your yard.
• Continue providing fresh water and food for birds and wildlife.
• Avoid walking on the lawn during a winter thaw.
• Order perennial plants and bulbs now.
• If you are storing any bulbs for summer planting, check them to make sure they are not rotting or damaged. Throw away any bad bulbs.
• Wash and sterilize seed-starting containers in 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
• Grow some herbs in containers, such as fresh parsley.
• Repot rootbound houseplants.
• Finalize your garden plans on paper.
• If you want to give your vegetables an early start, use season-extending devices such as cold frames or hot beds.
• Begin pruning fruit trees, grapes, and blueberries.
• Fertilize established fruit trees after the last frost.
• Apply fertilizer to houseplants as soon as they begin to show signs of growth.