10 tips to get you gardening at the end of February

Q. Even in the grip of winter, are there tasks I should be considering during February?

A. Think February isn't a gardening month? Here are 10 tasks perfect for a late-winter beginning to your gardening season:

Do some planning and consider what kind of garden you want; keeping a garden journal can make this a regular practice:

• Think about what didn't work in last year's garden. Are there overgrown shrubs that blocked valuable sunlight in much of the yard? Or is a crumbling and unsightly concrete walkway in need of replacement?

• Consider what improvements you would like to see in the coming year. Do you want a vegetable garden or an expanded area to grow these plants? A raised terrace with a firepit for cool spring and fall evenings? A stone path to replace damaged concrete?

Provide care and maintenance:

• Check for winter or animal damage. Inspect recently planted trees for frost cracks or sunscald. Look for bark damage caused by deer, rabbits or squirrels.

• Prune broken branches on trees (except for elms, maples or birches) and on shrubs, grape vines and bramble fruits (blackberries and raspberries).

• Water evergreens, shrubs and newly planted ornamental and shade trees if the ground is dry and can absorb water. This is best done when the air temperature is above 40 degrees.

Read seed and garden catalogs, and publications about gardening:

• Learn about new techniques and tools that enhance your gardening skills.

• Extend your knowledge of new plants and cultivars.

• Find out what plants are now recommended for our changing climate and our USDA Hardiness Zone 5b.

Sow seeds:

• Plant indoor seed trays. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage (cool season vegetables) can be started from seed and later transplanted to the garden. Seeds of annuals, such as verbena, petunia, geraniums, coleus, impatiens and salvia, can also be started now for a head start on spring planting.

• Plant outdoors. During the last two weeks of February, seeds of larkspur, sweet peas, Shirley poppies and snapdragons can be directly broadcast (tossed by hand) over the area in which they are desired; native grasses and plants can also be started this way — just as Mother Nature does!

For further information, here are some useful websites:

• go.illinois.edu/febgardentips    

• go.illinois.edu/missouribotanicfebgarden

­— Arlene Swartzman

• Provided by Master Gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, and University of Illinois Extension, North Cook Branch Office, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 298-3502 on Wednesdays or email northcookmg@gmail.com. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mg.