Welcome to the low desert of Arizona backyard in February. As our days begin warming up, there’s a lot to do within the backyard—every little thing from getting your beds prepared for spring greens to maintaining a tally of overwintered crops. This month’s information will talk about planting fruit timber, pruning frost-damaged branches, managing pests like aphids, and taking advantage of wet climate (fingers crossed!). You’ll discover easy steps to assist your backyard thrive throughout this transitional time. Let’s work collectively and benefit from your February backyard within the low desert.
For these within the low desert areas (under 3,500 ft), akin to Phoenix or Tucson, this information will make it easier to confidently backyard throughout February.
Tip: Need to know precisely what to plant this month? Try my What to Plant in Arizona in February information for a whole checklist of greens, flowers, and herbs to plant in February.
“The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves inside.” — William C. Bryant
Click on on the title to leap to that part and study extra about what to do throughout February:
February YouTube Movies:
Vegetable Gardening Duties for February
February within the low desert backyard marks the transition between cool-season harvests and warm-season planting.
When’s the Proper Time to Begin Planting?
All of it begins with figuring out your common final frost date, which may fluctuate from one space to a different. To search out yours, enter your zip code right into a frost date calculator. (My final frost date is February 12.) You’ll use this date to determine when to plant warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers. In the event you plant too early, a late frost might harm or kill tender crops, so verify your frost date now so that you’ll be prepared.
Soil Temperature: The Different Key Issue
Within the low desert, soil temperature and your final frost date go hand in hand for warm-season planting. If the soil is just too chilly, seeds can germinate slowly, and transplanted seedlings might wrestle all season.
Goal for a heat sufficient soil temperature (often above 60°F) earlier than planting tomatoes, peppers, and different heat-loving crops. That is the soil thermometer I take advantage of.
Learn to verify your soil temperature and get temperature tips for planting on this information.
Making ready Your Backyard Beds for Spring
1. Pull Again Mulch and Amend the SoilRemove any mulch overlaying your backyard mattress to reveal the soil. In the event you nonetheless have crops within the mattress, work amendments into the soil round them as gently as potential.
For a 4×8-foot mattress, add about 4 cups of worm castings. These feed your soil’s microbes, which in flip assist nourish your crops.
Subsequent, replenish natural matter by including compost or raised mattress combine. Over time, soil loses vitamins and construction, so topping it off now will give your spring crops a wholesome begin. I get my compost, worm castings and raised mattress combine from Arizona Worm Farm.
2. Verify Your Watering System
Flip the system on and watch it run. I take advantage of the backyard grids from Backyard in Minutes in my raised beds. (Use code Angela10 to avoid wasting $10 off $100 or GITG5 to avoid wasting 5 % on any measurement order.)
Repair leaks or change clogged emitters.
Guarantee all areas of the mattress are getting water.
How lengthy it takes to achieve a soil depth of 12 inches tells you ways lengthy to run the system every watering session.
Bolted Crops: A Pollinator Alternative
As temperatures rise, brassicas, lettuce, and different cool-season crops might bolt (flower). This doesn’t should imply the tip of the season:
Let Them Flower: Benefit from the blooms and let pollinators profit.
Removing Methodology: While you’re able to take away the plant, lower it on the base slightly than pull it as much as protect the soil construction.
Compost or Rooster Feed: Bolted greens make wonderful compost materials or rooster snacks.
My February Backyard Journals
Twice a month, I ship my private backyard journal to members of “Rising within the Backyard Academy.” From the primary seedling to the final harvest, you may observe my gardening adventures in Arizona’s distinctive low desert. Entry the previous three years of backyard journals and month-to-month lessons as a member.
Backyard Pests in February
As winter greens end their life cycle, some pests benefit from February’s cooler temperatures and the flush of recent development.
AphidsThese soft-bodied bugs are drawn to tender leaves and stems. Earlier than you deal with, observe your backyard and permit helpful bugs—like woman beetles and lacewings—time to indicate up and assist management aphids naturally. In the event you’d wish to encourage extra helpful bugs, let herbs akin to dill and cilantro bolt, and contemplate planting alyssum round roses and different backyard areas. For extra ideas, see my submit on controlling aphids with out chemical compounds.
Genista CaterpillarsTexas Mountain Laurels usually host these caterpillars, which spin free webbing and feed on leaves. They usually don’t trigger important harm. Nonetheless, if management turns into mandatory, attempt Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)—obtainable on-line—particularly whereas caterpillars are small and actively feeding.
Go Natural with Companion PlantingAdd a few of my favourite warm-season companion crops for a backyard vigorous (and useful predators). These flowers and herbs entice helpful bugs, lowering your reliance on chemical controls and retaining pest populations in verify.
Staying affected person and letting nature help usually results in more healthy crops and fewer pest issues in the long term. In the event you do determine to intervene, go for natural options first to guard your backyard’s ecosystem.
Container Gardening Duties
In the event you’re rising greens in containers, keep in mind they usually want extra frequent watering than in-ground beds. It’s additionally time to fertilize them in February, particularly in the event you’ve seen slowed development or pale foliage.
Selecting Container Dimension: In the event you’re utilizing develop luggage or different transportable containers, goal for no less than 10 gallons—20 gallons is even higher for tomatoes, peppers, and different bigger crops. Larger containers retain moisture longer and provides roots extra room to develop. Study extra on this information to container sizes.
Feeding Containers: Harvesting worm castings out of your backyard beds and including them to container soil is a good way to supply pure vitamins. This natural increase helps keep wholesome microbes and helps sturdy plant development. No worm castings? This fertilizer works nicely.
Frequent Watering: As a result of containers dry out sooner, verify moisture ranges repeatedly. Alter your watering schedule primarily based on the altering climate to stop crops from wilting or struggling stress.
Flower Gardening Duties
February is a superb month to offer your annual flowers a bit of further care and plan for the approaching heat season.
Observe Your SuccessKeeping a easy backyard journal helps you word what’s thriving—each in your yard and across the neighborhood. These observations information your future decisions, making certain annually’s flower show is even higher than the final.
Fertilize and WaterIf you planted cool-season annuals, they’ll proceed blooming till it will get scorching. To maintain them vibrant, fertilize now, remembering to water totally earlier than and after feeding. This fertilizer works nicely. As temperatures attain the 80s, you’ll have to water extra usually to stop wilting.
Heat-Season PlanningIf you’re including warm-season annuals, determine the place they’ll go and begin direct seeding outdoor this month. Be certain that the soil is ready with vitamins and able to assist younger seedlings.
The Perpetual Annual Flower Planting Calendar, obtainable in my store, helps you study when to plant flowers within the low desert of Arizona and whether or not to plant seeds or transplants.
Caring for Roses Throughout February
Prune & Defoliate
In the event you didn’t prune in January, do it now—particularly in case your roses have been within the floor for no less than a yr. Take away any useless or broken branches and clear up fallen leaves across the base to discourage pests and illness.
For youthful roses, prune solely flippantly and take away any broken leaves. Study extra about rising roses on this information.
Fertilize
When you see buds and new leaves, it’s time for the primary feeding of the season.
Use liquid fish emulsion for roses planted inside the final yr and a granular fertilizer for extra established bushes.
Deep-water your roses earlier than and after fertilizing to assist vitamins attain the roots.
Plant New Roses
February can be an awesome month to plant container-grown roses. Early planting offers them time to determine earlier than the summer time warmth arrives. I get mine from Heirloom Roses—check out my favorites and use this low cost code GARDENAZ20 via 2025 for a 20% low cost.
Herb Gardening
Cool-season herbs like cilantro and dill thrive within the gentle days of late winter however might begin to bolt as temperatures rise. Right here’s learn how to benefit from your herbs this month:
CilantroThis quick-growing herb prefers cool climate and ought to be harvested repeatedly to stop it from flowering and going to seed (referred to as coriander). Study extra about rising cilantro right here. In the event you’d wish to let it flower, it would entice helpful bugs to your backyard.
Harvest & PreserveTake benefit of the abundance by harvesting and preserving herbs now. A freeze-dryer works nice you probably have one, or you may chop herbs and blend them with olive oil to freeze in ice dice trays. These herb “cubes” are a fast taste increase for recipes year-round.
DillDill is an annual in our cool winters however bolts as soon as the climate warms. Harvest as wanted, or let it flower to draw pollinators. Dill can even function a “lure crop” for tomato hornworms and is a number plant for caterpillars. Discover extra ideas in my submit on rising dill.
RosemaryYou might even see rosemary blooming this month—harvest stems as wanted and permit some flowers to stay for pollinators. For extra recommendation on caring for rosemary, take a look at this text.
Fruit Bushes, Citrus, and Berries in February
Deciduous Fruit Bushes
February is a superb time to plant bare-root fruit timber—search for varieties that require beneath 400 chill hours. For extra on choice and planting, see my Fruit Planting Information. In case your timber nonetheless have leaves, strip them away to encourage dormancy, then spray with horticultural oil (I take advantage of this one) to handle overwintering pests.
Prune Earlier than Bud Break: Take away useless, diseased, or crossing branches. In the event you missed January pruning, do it now.
Fertilize & Water: After timber blossom, apply fertilizer and deep-water to assist new development. That is the fertilizer I take advantage of.
Citrus
As soon as the final frost date (mine is about February 12) has handed, plant new citrus timber. This text contains 30 citrus varieties. This information to rising citrus covers every little thing from planting to fertilizing.
Ripening Fruit: Pattern one to check for sweetness and water established timber about each 2–3 weeks in February.
Fertilize Now: In the event you didn’t feed in January, achieve this this month—water earlier than and after making use of fertilizer. That is the fertilizer I take advantage of.
Mild Pruning: Not strictly mandatory, however as soon as the frost hazard is gone, form the tree if desired. Hold decrease branches for optimum fruit manufacturing and trunk safety.
Frequent Issues: Yellow or dropping leaves are typical in winter. Small, shriveled fruit usually signifies insufficient watering; dry, pithy fruit can counsel frost harm.
Grapes & Blackberries
Plant grapes and blackberries now or subsequent month in full solar with a sturdy trellis or arbor.
Pruning & Fertilizing: In the event you haven’t pruned grapevines but, achieve this to take away previous canes. Fertilize as soon as new development seems, then water totally to assist vitamins attain the roots.
Fashionable Varieties: Flame Seedless and Thompson Seedless do nicely in lots of Arizona gardens.
Panorama Plant Duties
Late winter is a key time to trim frost-damaged or dormant crops, and it’s additionally a possibility so as to add desert-adapted species to your yard.
Pruning Frost-Tender PlantsWait till mid-to-late February to prune lantana, hibiscus, and different frost-sensitive crops. In the event that they’ve skilled frost harm, maintain off till you see new development earlier than making any cuts.
Cleanup for Bushes & ShrubsRemove any useless branches towards the tip of the month. This helps preserve your panorama wholesome and prepares crops for spring development.
Planting Desert NativesAlthough early fall is the most effective time to plant, February is the following best choice. Including desert-adapted crops akin to desert marigolds, night primrose, penstemon, and sage offers them extra time to determine earlier than the warmth arrives.
Watering Your Backyard and Panorama Throughout February
In a wet month, your timber and shrubs might not want further water. If heavy rain doesn’t arrive, it’s nonetheless vital to apply deep, rare watering to advertise sturdy root development. For extra ideas, WaterUseItWisely.com presents nice tips on watering schedules within the desert.
Bushes & Shrubs: If rain is scarce, water not more than as soon as each 14–28 days.
Citrus: Established citrus timber usually want watering each 2–3 weeks.
Fruit Bushes: As soon as they’re established, deep-water each 10–14 days.
Annuals: As daytime temperatures attain the 80s, they’ll want water extra continuously—verify the highest inch of soil and water when it’s dry.
Containers: Use a moisture meter or take a look at the highest inch of soil—solely water when the soil has dried out a bit.
I water my backyard beds about as soon as every week firstly of February, then improve to each 4–5 days towards the tip of the month as temperatures climb. Alter your schedule primarily based on precise rainfall and the way shortly your soil dries out.
Frost and Frost Harm
Freezing climate can strike unexpectedly in an Arizona backyard in February. In case your crops have suffered frost harm, it’s tempting to prune instantly, however persistence pays off. Broken leaves and branches truly defend towards additional chilly. My native final frost date is round mid-February, although I continuously monitor the forecast in case of late-season freezes.
Cowl Frost-Delicate PlantsKeep burlap or frost material available to defend newly planted citrus, younger lemon and lime timber, and different tender crops when temperatures dip under 32°F (0°C).
Resist Early PruningPruning tells the plant to ship out tender new development, which may be harmed by one other frost. Wait till the specter of frost has handed (often after your native final frost date) to trim off broken leaves or branches. Learn the entire information to pruning peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants after winter right here.
Consider Overwintered Crops
If a plant is severely broken or diseased, take away it and plan to begin new transplants in a unique location.
In the event you see contemporary development, prune again to simply above that time, then fertilize and water to encourage a wholesome rebound.
If no new development seems, the plant could also be executed—particularly within the case of warm-season crops.
Panorama PlantsMany panorama shrubs and timber might take longer to indicate indicators of life after a freeze, so contemplate ready till March to see in the event that they bounce again.
Ready to prune offers your crops the most effective probability to recuperate and thrive as soon as the climate stabilizes. As soon as the ultimate freeze has handed, you may safely take away frost harm, feed, water totally, and watch for brand new, vigorous development.
In the event you’re unsure which crops want safety or learn how to cowl them correctly, I’ve a number of guides that may assist:
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