With noticeably longer days and milder winter temperatures, February is an ideal time to take care of several gardening chores and prepare your yard for spring.
February is also a good time to plant citrus trees. Well-suited citrus to grow in the region includes Fairchild mandarins, Marsh grapefruit, Valencia oranges, Lisbon or Eureka lemons, and Mexican limes.
This is also your last chance to plant smaller cool-season vegetable seeds, including root vegetables, loose-leaf lettuces and greens, peas, and herbs.
Garden tasks to do now:
- Remove weeds and debris: Clear out weeds or garden beds as they can harbor pests and compete with other plants for water, nutrients, and space.
- Prune your plants: Trim shrubs, bushes, and deciduous fruit trees by cutting away dead or overgrown branches, stems, leaves, buds, blooms, or roots to increase growth.
- Adjust your water schedule: As temperatures rise, so will watering frequency.
- Inspect water systems: Check for leaks to ensure the system works efficiently.
- Use fertilizer: Adding fertilizer helps replenish essential nutrients, allowing desert plants to grow healthy, bloom properly, and produce fruits or vegetables. For citrus and deciduous fruit trees, fertilize with an organic time-release fertilizer.
- Monitor Pests: Look for pests like aphids and control them with insecticidal soap.
- Encourage pollinators: Add flowering plants to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds as they help your garden thrive in the spring season.
- Protect from frost: Keep frost cloths or blankets handy to protect sensitive plants from unexpected cold temperatures.
By starting tasks now, your desert garden will be well-prepared to thrive in the warmer months ahead.
To learn about more plants to use in your garden this spring, see CVWD’s “Lush and Efficient: Desert- Friendly Landscaping in the Coachella Valley”– available online at www.cvwd.org/LushEfficient.
