10 Gardening Activities for February in the Southwest

1. Transplant Warm-Season Crops

If you started warm-season seeds back in December or early January, then you can likely transplant them this month. In the Southwest, this includes crops such as tomatoes, eggplant, melons, peppers, squash, and basil. If you need to start your seeds, you still can. Just plant now and your starts will be ready to transplant in 6 to 8 weeks. Don’t forget to harden off your seedlings before planting them in garden beds. The hardening off process helps young plants acclimate to outdoor conditions. Before planting be sure to check a seed planting calculator that provides the best time to plant various crops based on your areas average last frost date. In warm areas such as Phoenix, it’s time to plant. At higher elevations or in areas of Texas, frost may still be a danger.

2. Get Spring-Planted Bulbs (including Corms, Tubers & Rhizomes) in the Ground

Any spring-planted bulbs should be put in the ground this month or next. Bulbs such as anemones, begonias, crocosmias, calla lilies, dahlias, gladiolus, lilies, ranunculus, and other spring-planted bulbs are available from online retailers such as American Meadows, Longfield Gardens, and Brent and Becky's Bulbs; and caladiums can be purchased online from Proven Winners. If you have issues with pests that eat your bulbs, the weather is particularly hot in your area, or you get heavy winds, consider planting bulbs in containers so they can be moved to protected locations while they are in bloom.

3. Get All Your Annual Flowers Growing

From alyssum to calendula, petunias to poppies, calibrachoa to zinnias, you can start planting pretty much all of your annuals this month if your weather is consistently warm and no frost is expected. Be sure to plan which annuals to plant in your garden beds, but also think about containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. When planting annuals, be sure to use a good potting mix and amend with organic fish emulsion and/or compost. The nutrients in these amendments will produce lush growth and lots of flowers. Shop for annuals at your local garden centers or online at retailers such as Proven Winners.

4. Fertilize Trees & Shrubs—Especially Citrus & Avocado

February is a good month to restart your tree and shrub fertilization routine because you’ll be adding nutrients before the growing season. This will help provide plants with the resources they need to produce lush growth. Fertilize with a general-purpose tree and shrub fertilizer for most plants. It's often best to use a specialty fertilizer or spikes for plants like conifers, palms, or azaleas & rhododendrons. It’s especially important to fertilize citrus and avocados before or as they start their flower-budding season.

5. Plant Tropicals

Tropical plants can add drama to your garden. Consider adding more common tropicals such as bougainvillea, lantana, hibiscus, bird of paradise, or palms as well as more exotic varieties such as banana, elephant ear, ground orchids, mangaves, and others. Look for common tropicals at local garden centers or online at Proven Winners. If you want to find specialty plants such as ‘Black Coral’ elephant ear or hardy banana plants you’ll need to search at specialty retailers such as Plant Delights.

6. Watch for Wildflower Blooms

The desert wildflower bloom season can start in mid-February and continue into April or May. Make sure you watch out for an early season, a coming super bloom, or areas of the desert that are expected to have particularly abundant blooms. Then, plan a trip to the California or Arizona deserts (check out this informational page from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum). Areas of Texas are also known for incredible wildflowers, and you can get more information from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, including a list of wildflower drives.

7. Scatter Wildflower Seeds

If you don’t have time for a wildflower road trip, then plant your own wildflower bloom. Typically, fall is the best time to plant if your wildflowers won’t receive any supplemental irrigation. But, if you’re going to hand water or water with sprinklers, then it’s fine to plant in late-winter or early spring once your soil has warmed. Look for seed mixes specifically for the Southwest. When planting wildflowers, be sure to prepare your garden beds by removing weeds, lawn, or debris. Scatter seed by hand or use a seed spreader. Use a sod roller to press seeds into the soil. Water evenly so the seeds and soil stay moist, and follow a consistent watering schedule thereafter.

8. Check on Houseplants

If your houseplants got neglected over the holidays, now is the time to check them for signs of pests, disease, under or over watering, and sunlight exposure. Fix any issues you see as soon as possible. It’s also a good idea to clean leaves to remove dust (a damp rag works well, or you can use Leaf Shine). Provide plants with extra moisture by moving them to a bathroom for a day or weekend where the ambient moisture will help rehydrate them. You can also mist plants using a spray bottle or mister.

9. Cut Back Bougainvillea & Other Vines

Cut back bougainvillea after flowering in late winter to early spring. When pruning bougainvillea, be sure to wear rose pruning gloves for protection from the large thorns. Cut back dry or dead branches and prune for shape. You want to keep the plants off of houses or other structures not intended for woody vines; bougainvillea can destroy fences and eaves in a hurry. There are a number of other vines that can also be pruned back in late winter or early spring such as trumpet flower, some clematis, hop vines, morning glory, honeysuckle, some wisteria, as well as others. Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a great online guide on pruning vines as well as general advice and details on pruning specific plants.

10. Cultivate Mason Bees

Mason bee colonies are generally considered easy to start because they don’t need a large hive to produce honey. These native bees just need tunnels for nesting and forage such as berries, fruit trees, or shrubs. There are mason bee kits available online, as well as an assortment of mason bee houses. You can also read more about cultivating mason bees from the Ecological Landscape Alliance.