During the winter people often ask me if there is anything at all that they can be doing outdoors in the garden. Well, in fact there are many things that can be done now.  Here are some checklist items for February that I hope you'll enjoy:

Lawn Tips:

Double check the lawnmower, and have it serviced so it’s ready later in spring.

Take soil tests now so that you have a head start on what your lawn needs for a good start.

Check the lawn for diseased / thin spots so you know where to concentrate your efforts come spring.

February 1-9:

Let the sun do its work to melt ice and snow from landscape plants after winter storms. If a really heavy snow is forecast use a broom to sweep upward and remove accumulating snow as it falls to prevent damage on plants you are concerned about.

Get those seeds and plants ordered from mail order catalogs, or online now (we all know the hot new items go fast!).

Got the winter blues? Try adding a few new house plants to your home or office to help improve your mood.

February 10-19:

Fruit trees can now be fertilized with appropriate nutrients as based on soil test results.

Cool season crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can be started indoors now.

If you were lucky enough to get flowers for Valentine’s Day be sure to use preservatives in the water so they last as long as possible.

February 20-28:

Begin dormant oil spray programs on woody ornamentals (dependent on weather conditions)

Check stored bulbs for rot, begin fertilizing some house plants.

Fertilize woody plant material now before new growth occurs, and always based on soil test results.  

Prune deciduous landscape plants (but not spring flowering plants, prune these right after flowering).

Remove old top growth of asparagus and rhubarb and fertilize with a nitrogen fertilizer or compost.

Thin out raspberry and blackberry bushes by focusing first on dead canes.

Prune and train grape vines.

Fruit trees should be pruned to improve form and reduce crowded branches and promote good air circulation.

Be sure to fertilize spring flowering bulbs as soon as they emerge from the soil.

Start early peas in the vegetable garden now. 

The winter is a great time to dream about the new plants we'd like to purchase for our landscape and gardens in the coming year. A tree that I think many should be dreaming about more is Pondcypress. This species (Taxodium ascendens)  is a rarely used deciduous conifer species closely related to the Baldcypress which is more frequently encountered in cultivation.  Equally as cold hardy and adaptable Pondcypress deserves greater recognition and use in general landscape applications. Pondcypress is considerably narrower in form which lends itself for sites where Baldcypress might be undesirable because of ultimate spread. As in Baldcypress this tree is native to wet areas along stream banks, and mucky soils.  For wet sites Pondcypress is an ideal tree to use, but proves to be remarkably drought tolerant as well once established. This species is also less likely to produce knees even in wet areas, and in drier sites knees may never develop. Pondcypress has a reputation of being extremely wind firm as hurricane force winds rarely are able to topple the trees.

Photo by Cruiser in Wikimedia Commons.

Tolerant to most soil types, except alkaline soils with pH above 7.5, pond cypress proves to be highly adaptable to most sites. The tree form and foliage of Pond Cypress is distinctive as the tree tends to be rather upright and columnar in habit, with foliage thread-like held upright and in rows giving the tree a very soft texture of bright green feathery plumes. Fall color is often an outstanding copper-red, and the small round 1-3 inch cones produced on older trees offer additional winter interest. Mature size in the landscape can reach 70 ft in height, but only 15-20ft wide allowing the tree to fit into very narrow confines.  Pondcypress is hardy in USDA zones 4-9, and specimens can be viewed in Kentucky at Boone County Arboretum, and Bernheim Arboretum.  

Photo by Raulbot on Wimimedia Commons.

Cultivars: 

‘Prairie Sentinel’- Very tall in relation to width, 60’ tall by 10’ wide with soft fine textured foliage.

‘Nutans’- Short horizontal to ascending branching pattern with pendulous branchlets.  

The swamp white oak is a large, narrow-crowned tree found throughout the northeastern United States as far west as Iowa and eastern Missouri.  In Kentucky it is found predominately along the Ohio River, and in western Kentucky occurring on deep, rich, moist bottomlands along streams, and on low areas. The simple leaves have 7-9 rounded, shallow lobes, resembling large, coarse teeth more than lobes. Leaves are dark, shiny green above gray to shiny white and downy below. The acorns usually occur in pairs and are very similar to white oak acorns except that they grow on long stalks, and with smooth caps. The twigs are green and lustrous, becoming light orange colored or brown the first winter.  The bark is smooth on small branches, purplish brown and separates into large, papery scales.  On larger branches and trunks, it breaks into broad, flat ridges, with deep fissures between, and is gray-brown to reddish brown in color.

Being a bottomland species, swamp white oak is highly adaptable to tough urban conditions where soil compaction reduces oxygen content in the soil. Unfortunately this species has been underutilized in many urban areas, but has recently come into favor as interest in native plants increase. Nurseries are now offering the plant more frequently, allowing for more widespread application of its use in street plantings, and for home landscapes. 

As member of the white oak group, this tree avoids some of the more common problems that can be found with members of the red oak group.  While some members of the group can be slow growing, swamp white oak is certainly not in that category.  Under reasonably good growing conditions this tree can grow moderately fast in comparison to most other oaks, and is easily the most rapid growing white oak. 

In addition to its good growth rates the tree is also highly ornamental.  Leaves are dark, shiny green above gray to shiny white and downy below. This creates excellent visual interest on windy days. In fall the glossy green foliage slowly gives way to light yellow hues, and can be fairly long lasting.  During winter the light gray bark stands out in the landscape, with the heavily exfoliating bark on smaller branches adding even more winter interest to the plant.  

With such good seasonal appeal, and adaptability of this species, swamp white oak certainly deserves more widespread use and acceptance in our urban landscapes.