Rhubarb

The rhubarb plants are starting to grow so add a couple hands full of fertilizer and/or a lot compost or manure around the plants.

Weed around the plant so all of the fertilizer and water goes to the new plants.

Roses

Time to prune the hybrid roses down to around 6-8 inches. This way the roses only grow a few feet tall. If you leave the roses unpruned, the plant will grow to over 5foot tall.

Grafting Class

A grafting class will be held at the OUS Extension Service March 9, two sessions, 3-5 and 6-8, Eugene, Or. Call 1 541 682-7308 for registartion form.

Apples

Apple bud are breaking two weeks a head of schedule. With the first dry day, spray with lime sulfur or copper to clean up the trees from various fungus problems.

Peas

Time to think about planting peas - Perfection, Oregon Sugar Pod, Sugar Snap, Oregon Trail or Oregon Sugar Pod II.

Tree fruits

Peaches are showing pink bloom.
Some plums are blooming out.
Cherries and pears are pushing open.
Raspberries and roses have leaves over 1 inch long.
Blueberries - pushing hard.
Be wary - it has been 31 for two mornings.

This week

A question arose about grafting older grapes: It is easier to get cuttings from a good grape, root it and then replant. Grafting older plants is pretty difficult.
Peaches and plums are blooming in Coos County!
Lawns may need mowing if the weather stays warm.

This week

Plant new tree fruits and berry bushes between Feb. 15 and March 15.
Be aware that we MAY still have bad weather between now and the end of March.
Finish pruning. Collect scion wood for grafting between Feb. 15- March 1st, place in a cool place or refrigerator until you graft.

Lawns

Take a few minutes since it is still raining, to check the lawn mower. Yes, the lawn is growing.
Change the oil, clean the air filter and sharpen the blade.

If the lawn has moss, as most lawns will this time of year, add 80 pounds per 1000 sq feet of ag lime or any kind of lime.

Even in the rain

Check the plants under the eaves of the house. The plants will be in need of water soon. Check for soil moisture with a trowel or shovel.

While pruning today (another pruning class), I noticed that every bud on a pear tree had 2 mm of dead tissue on each bud from the December freeze. This will mean that the leaves will be deformed, have brown edges or the bloom may have been damaged. Time will tell.

Mice

In walking out into the orchard I noticed a lof wholes in the ground with the grass missing near the wholes. These are field mice or voles. Use baited traps to catch the voles. Remove ALL vegetation from around the base of the trees. Mice won't cross open ground.

Wow

I was out in the garden today, in the rain, and noticed that the raspberries had leafed out already.
The plum/prune trees had white buds - soon to bloom.
Spray these with copper or lime sulfur ASAP. Wait to much longer and the spray will burn the new flowers and leaves.

More Hints

Review your garden journal for what you did, what you liked and what you didn't like last year. (If you didn't keep a garden journal, start one for 2010.)
Have your soil tested at least every 5 years to see where you are with the different nutrients. Check with your local Extension office - Master Gardeners - for places to get your soil sampled. For MGs in Eugene, OR. - 541 682-4247.

Feb To Does

Prune grapes, take cuttings. Cut into pieces about 14-18 inches long; make sure there are three buds per pruning stick. Place two of the three buds in well drained potting mix. Keep the soil moist. By May the grapes will have rooted.