February Desert Gardening List

February is a very exciting time in your desert garden! By the end of the month most of the frost warnings are gone and a lot of the garden is starting to wake up from its winter slumber. Here's a checklist for February:

Plant:
- Gladiolus in various heights and colors. Stagger the planting for an extended bloom but remember, in most desert zones these do not make it through the summer.
- Ice plants can be planted before mid-February to give them time to develop roots before the summer heat gets to them.
- In Zones 9-10 at the end of February plant bulbs such as crinum, spider lily, Amaryllis and tiger flower. Tulips can still be planted this month as well.
- In Zone 8, plant gladiolus.
- In the garden, plant carrots, corn, eggplant, lettuce, cabbage, radishes, tomatoes and watermelon.

February is a huge month to get your vegetable garden started!

Care:
- In Zones 9-10 cut back canna to a few inches of the ground.
- Keep an eye out for aphids this month. If you spot these tiny critters a strong blast of water should eliminate them.
- To keep squirrels or other rodents away from bulbs try sprinkling red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper around the plant.
- Once frost danger is gone you can begin to prune your plants and remove any damaged parts that were ruined in the winter freeze.

Watering:
- Water bulbs and perennials when the soil is dry to the touch.

Fertilize:
- If you've cut back your canna, apply a slow-release fertilizer. Canna will begin to grow very quickly.
- Fertilize iris and water thoroughly after initial application.
- Do not fertilize any plant that is dormant.
- Fertilize your citrus. It's about to hit the big annual growth period.