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Central Plains Gardener's February Checklist
Learn the right way to prune trees this month — when you're not busy spying intrepid spring-hinting blossoms, that is
Benjamin Vogt
January 31, 2013
Houzz Contributor. I'm a big advocate for bringing the tallgrass prairie into our urban lives -- only 1% remains, making it more threatened than the Amazon rainforest yet also as effective at sequestering CO2. I own Monarch Gardens LLC, a prairie garden design firm based in Nebraska and working with clients across the Midwest. I also speak nationally on native plants, sustainable design, and landscape ethics while hosting online classes. I'm the author of A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future. In the coming years we want to restore a 40+ acre prairie and host an artist residency program.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a big advocate for bringing the tallgrass prairie into our... More
We're on the very cusp of gardening season, and if you're eager there's plenty to do. But if you're a lazy gardener, like me, you don't have to do anything in the soil just yet. February is the perfect time to get some major architectural work done in your landscape — work that will help your plants thrive and provide more wildlife value for you to enjoy come summer.
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More regional garden guides
Prune shrubs and trees. There are two reasons February and March are great pruning months: 1. You can see the branches, since there are no leaves, and 2. The plants have not woken up yet, so the sap is not flowing and damage is much less likely. Birch is one of the earliest trees to start flowing, so get to it early.
Redtwig dogwoods are easy to maintain; just snip out one-third of the oldest twigs near ground level to rejuvenate the shrub and ensure more young twigs next winter. The oldest twigs are the thickest and don't have as vibrant a color.
Don't prune Spiraea species, which bloom on last year's growth — wait until early summer. In fact, most shrubs that bloom in spring should be trimmed after the bloom.
Redtwig dogwoods are easy to maintain; just snip out one-third of the oldest twigs near ground level to rejuvenate the shrub and ensure more young twigs next winter. The oldest twigs are the thickest and don't have as vibrant a color.
Don't prune Spiraea species, which bloom on last year's growth — wait until early summer. In fact, most shrubs that bloom in spring should be trimmed after the bloom.
A general rule is to trim branches on younger trees so that the bottom one-third of the trunk is just trunk, no branches. This helps growth go up the tree toward the top, where it's most needed. Use a sharp pruning saw for larger twigs and branches, and a bypass pruner for small twigs and shoots.
This photo is of some neat coat hooks, but I put it here to show you where not to cut the branch. See that gray arc at the base of the coat hook on the trunk? That's called the branch collar — that's where you should cut. Saw the branch off at the same angle that the collar is on the trunk, having the top of the cut meet at the top of the branch collar.
This photo is of some neat coat hooks, but I put it here to show you where not to cut the branch. See that gray arc at the base of the coat hook on the trunk? That's called the branch collar — that's where you should cut. Saw the branch off at the same angle that the collar is on the trunk, having the top of the cut meet at the top of the branch collar.
What else should you trim on a young tree?
- Make sure the tree has one central leader branch — if it has two, cut off the one that isn't straight up and down, looks weaker or is coming off the side of the trunk.
- Remove any crossing branches that are rubbing each other. Rubbing branches peel off protective bark and can lead to disease.
- If you're pruning crabapples, go easy. The more you prune these trees, the more ugly water sprouts you'll get (those thin branches that go straight up in the air). My advice is to not make more than a few cuts each year.
Tend to birdhouses. Clean them out if you can. Though some birds keep warm in used nests that are inside birdhouses, it won't be long until spring migrants will be looking for a new home.
Watch for emerging blooms. Here in zone 5a, crocuses will be making an appearance at the end of the month. I have hundreds placed in my lawn. Did you plant any this fall? They'll spread slowly each year, eventually giving you a late-winter lawn your neighbors will envy. They're also one of the first pollen and nectar plants for insects who are ahead of the game.
Maybe the groundhog saw its shadow; maybe it didn't. Either way, the snow and ice will melt — think of this event like a rainbow, a promise of hope and renewal.
More regional garden guides
More regional garden guides
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