February Lawn tips By Tulsa Master Gardeners

FEBRUARY
Ornamentals, Trees, Shrubs
Fertilize trees (including fruit and nut) and shrubs. It is best to fertilize in both the spring and fall. Divide the fertilizer equally between spring and fall.
Dormant oil spray can still be applied to control overwintering insects such as scale, mites, galls, aphids, etc, on deciduous trees and shrubs if not yet treated. Dormant oil sprays should be applied when the temperature is above 40 degrees F. Do not use “dormant” oils on evergreens. See OSU Pub. 7306 – Ornamental and Lawn Pest Control for control.
Finish pruning shade trees and summer flowering shrubs such as vitex. Prune evergreen hedges early spring before new growth begins. Spring blooming shrubs such as forsythia and spirea may be pruned immediately following flowering. See OSU Pub. 6409 – Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.
Most bare-rooted trees and shrubs should be planted in February or March before bud break. Once buds begin to swell, this signals the roots to begin putting on new growth. Later plantings should be balled and burlapped or container grown. See OSU Pub. 6414 – Planting Shade Trees and Shrubs.
Soil
Base vegetable and lawngrass fertilization on soil test recommendation. (More Soil Information.)
Turfgrass See also — Oklahoma Turfgrasses-Characteristics/Maintenance
Mow cool season grasses at 2 to 3 inches high at a mower height of 2 1/2 inches. Mowing should be frequent enough to remove not more than one-third of the leaf blade per cutting.
Water turf if rainfall has been deficient. Check moisture in protected areas.
Vegetables
Begin the vegetable Garden. See vegetable section of this website here.
Don’t forget that all plants need water in winter as well as summer. This is especially true when windy and low humidity conditions prevail. Evergreens are especially vulnerable to winter water loss and freeze damage. See OSU Pub. 6404 – Winter Protection of Landscape Plants.
Few insects active but preplant applications for cutworms, white grubs, and wireworms can be made, if needed in late February.
Please read the label when using pesticides. Verify the use of the chemical for that particular plant. Also note the “days to harvest” waiting period before the vegetable can be harvested and consummed.