GARDEN FANATIC: Plant Man in February

“Millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.” — Susan Ertz

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” — Roger Caras

I patiently waited for the rain to ease, rather than walking the neighborhood with Buster and Blondie. In retrospect it was just an excuse to watch the last quarter of the game; football seemed more appealing that braving a wet Sunday afternoon.

An evening of angst followed, knowing that I could have spent time with my dogs and shed some of the accumulation of holiday non-rationing. Fortunately, Catharine was out of town working on her latest novel.

If it isn’t raining, February is one of the best months for planting. The soil is naturally moist and temperatures are generally moderate in Laguna. Such conditions are ideal for root growth, ensuring a good start for trees, shrubs and lawns. Rose pruning should also be completed this month. Once completed, immediately begin a fertilization program.

Your recent questions for the Plant Man, my friends, included...

Q. What flowers look good now?

A. Delphinium, English primrose, foxglove, Iceland poppy, pansy, snapdragon, stock and viola, top the Plant Man’s garden color list for February.

Q. Could you recommend a few Floribunda roses for my garden?

A. Gladly. Second in popularity to only hybrid teas, Floribunda roses are quite floriferous. They are well suited massed alone or combined with other shrubs. My personal favorites include Angel face (wonderful mauve-lavender blooms), Iceberg (pure white and arguably the finest rose available) and Playboy (bright orange and sexy).

Q. Is it safe to prune roses if the rose bush is still leafy and producing flowers?

A. I would wait until the “flush” of flowers ends and then prune. Remember, you have until the end of February to prune your roses in Laguna.

Q. Is it too late for bulbs?

A. Spring bulbs, like callas, gladiolus, lilies, and Lily of the Valley are available at your favorite nursery. If you can find them, there is time to plant daffodil, ranunculus, and narcissus.

Q. Do I have to use a special mix when I plant my azaleas?

A. Azaleas prefer an acid soil, whether growing in the ground or in pots.

I recommend you plant azaleas in 9 parts azalea mix to 1 part garden soil or potting soil. Mulch plants frequently during the year with azalea mix or peat moss.

Q. When I re-planted my amaryllis this fall, all I got was leaves. Could you please tell me what I’m doing wrong.

A. After the plant flowers, it is important to keep it watered and fed so the bulb can store energy for the following year’s bloom. If you forgot to do so, that might explain why you were rewarded with only leaves.

Although a very sturdy bulb, amaryllis has tender roots and must be handled carefully.

You may have inadvertently disturbed the roots. If so, it may not bloom again for several years.

Q. When is the best time to prune olive trees — especially if you want to reduce fruit?

A. Olives should be pruned when the small, white flowers appear in late spring/early summer. This will help to reduce or eliminate the fruit.

I’m going to turn over a new leaf, so-to-speak this month.

I will definitely be walking with Buster and Blondie on Sunday, right until kickoff.

And I won’t watch another football game after the Super Bowl this Sunday (until next season).

Finally, I won’t ask Eve to look at another DRB project ever again (but I will offer a speedy recovery to Woody).

See you next time.

STEVE KAWARATANI is married to writer Catharine Cooper and has one cat and five dogs. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to plantman2@mac.com.