February – Winter or Spring?

Feb 1

Written By Lorne Hall

What is your opinion of February?

Do you think of February as the end of winter?

Or, do you think of February as the beginning of spring?

The reality is… February can go either way.

Sometimes February feels like winter is never going to end — other times February feels like spring has arrived with bulbs, shrubs and trees bursting to life.

*If we receive a snow this February, take time to find to notice the stark red branches of the Red Twig Dogwood against pure white snow.*

Either way, February means we are getting closer to the browns of winter being replaced with the colors of spring!

And, no matter which way this February trends, it is time to shake off your winter break from lawn and landscape activities and get focused on setting up your lawn and landscape for your best year yet.

You may have had time to handle some of these tasks during January, if so, you are ahead. But, if not, it is time to get busy. We are down to the last few weeks to get your lawn and landscape ready for the coming season.

*For your best lawn this season, a pre-emergent application must be put on your lawn before the first of March.*

Weed Control

In early January, as weather allowed, we began applying the very important first step of our lawn care program to many of your lawns. For your best lawn this year, it is critical you have a pre-emergent herbicide on your turf to prevent spring and summer weeds before early March. Many summer weeds germinate when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees, which typically occurs sometime during the first two weeks of March in central Oklahoma. Soil temperatures are currently in the upper 30s but will reach the critical weed germination point within the next 30-40 days. Along with applying the first pre-emergent of the year, now is the perfect time to be more aggressive in controlling existing weeds in bermuda lawns. If you have a fescue lawn, now is also a good time for pre and post-emergent weed control, but if you are applying your own weed control it is critical you read the label first and ensure it is safe for fescue. Never assume that an herbicide is okay on any turf type.

Key Point: For the best lawn this year your lawn needs a pre-emergent application before soil temperatures reach 55 degrees in early March.

Want to learn more about preventing weeds? Read our article from January 11th, Why is an Early Lawn Care Application So Important?

*Because crabgrass is fast growing and spreads quickly, it can have a dominant presence in your lawn by May without a spring pre-emergent.*

Dormant Oil

Many insects, such as scale, aphids, mites and leaf hoppers, overwinter on trees and shrubs. Spray with a dormant oil when the temperature is above freezing before the end of the month (before bud break), and you will have less insect issues on your trees and shrubs during the season. Dormant oil can also reduce some fungal pathogens.

Always read and follow the label before spraying. Some plants, such as blue spruce and blue juniper, can experience temporary loss of color if sprayed by Dormant Oils.

Key Point: Dormant oils will reduce, and possibly eliminate, some insects.

For more information on dormant oil applications, read our post from January 18th, Dormant Oils – A Proactive Approach to Insect Control.

*Over the past few seasons Crape Myrtles have been problems with white scale. The first step in gaining control of the insect is a dormant oil treatment.*

Before warm season lawns come out of dormancy is one of the best times to control and prevent weeds. — *The best time to control and prevent weeds is before warm season lawns come out of dormancy.*

*An application of a dormant oil this month will smother overwintering insects such as aphids.*

*Assuming February brings us a gradual warm up we are only 30 days away from daffodil blossoms.*

Watering

Winter moisture is important for the health of your lawn and landscape. Last weeks snow fall, a dry snow, equaled a good, slow soaking ½” of moisture. Continue to monitor moisture through February and anytime we go 7-10 days without moisture, pick a nice day and give your lawn and landscape a deep soaking. The goal in the winter is to get ½” of moisture on your lawn and landscape every 2 weeks.

Key Point: Winter plant damage is more likely to occur when plant roots are dry during an extended cold period.

It is a good practice to wrap the trunks of young Maple trees to prevent trunk damage in February and March. Commonly known as southwest injury, it is caused by sap rising on warm days followed by freezing temperatures at night resulting in damage to the bark.

Fescue

Fescue lawns go into winter with a rich green color and gradually fade in color through the winter. The amount of color loss is directly related to how dry and cold of a winter we have. One of the best benefits of last week’s 8” snow fall is the blanket of protection from the single digit temperatures and cold winds while trapping the warmth of the soil. Don’t be surprised if fescue lawns look a little more vibrant once all the snow is melted.

What can you expect from your fescue in February? Every year there is a turning point when temperatures rise, there is abundant moisture and almost overnight, fescue lawns regain their rich green color. A full recovery can happen as early as mid-February or as late as mid-March.

Key Point: Hold your judgment on the condition of your fescue lawn for another 4-6 weeks.

What can you do for your fescue lawn?

Sometime between late February and early March, remove the freeze-dried leaf blades by cutting the lawn shorter. You don’t have to scalp it. Just cut it enough to remove the brown leaf ends.

Key Point: Cut your fescue a little shorter in a few weeks to remove the brown leaf tips.

*We could be only three weeks away from seeing spring color!*

Soil Test

If your lawn did not respond as expected to fertilizer last year, you may have a soil problem. It is a good idea to have your soil tested every two to three years to ensure the soil will continue to yield a healthy landscape. A soil analysis will provide you with the pH and levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. A pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 is acceptable for most plants.

If you would like to schedule a soil test respond to this email or call (405)367-3873. We will gather a sample and deliver it to the lab. Once we have the soil test results, we will send you a report and prescribe a soil amendment plan if needed.

Key Point: For the best lawn and landscape, have your soil tested every two to three years.

*One of the first announcements of spring comes from the bright golden yellow of the forsythia. When will it declare spring this year? Before the end of February? Or March?*

*Later this month Crabapple blossoms will burst to life.*

Tree Pruning

Continue to work on tree pruning with the goal of completing maintenance and restorative pruning before trees leaf in March.

Want to know the details on tree pruning? Visit our article from December 7th, Winter Tree Pruning.

*If you planted daffodil bulbs in November or December, this is less than 30 days away!*

Lawn Maintenance

Continue to keep leaves and debris removed from the landscape. Later this month or early in March, cut the lawn for the first time. It is not necessary to scalp the lawn all the way to the soil. We recommend cutting the lawn at or just below the height you desire to maintain it at during the spring and early summer.

*Have you noticed the Winterberry? Winterberry is a deciduous holly that adds interest to the winter landscape with a vibrant show of red berries.*

Lawn Equipment

If you mow your own lawn, February is a perfect time to get your mower ready for the new season. I am a firm believer in having your lawn mower professionally serviced every winter. Not only will you have less mower headaches during the season, you also can expect a longer mower life. Most shops offer a winter tune-up special where they put in a new spark plug, change the oil and filter, replace the air filter if needed, put in fresh fuel with stabilizer, and sharpen the blade.

*We are only 4-5 weeks away from Oklahoma’s State Tree, the Redbud, brightening our days.*

Over the next few weeks there will be days that we think winter will never end and there will be strings of days that have us all thinking spring has arrived.

Don’t let a spring-like February day pass without spending some time outside.

By the end of the month, we will all be singing….

I see trees of green

Red roses too

I see them bloom

For me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue

And clouds of white

The bright blessed day

The dark sacred night