10 Gardening Activities for February in the Northeast

1. Order Bare-Root Roses

It’s time to order bare-root roses. Order now so you're sure to get your top picks. Some roses such as David Austin can sell out fast. To order bare-root roses, check out these online retailers that carry a wide selection: Jackson & Perkins, David Austin, Burpee. These suppliers will ship the roses in the ideal planting month for your zone or you can select when you want your order shipped. You'll want to plant as soon as the soil can be worked (this may be in March or April depending on where you live). When planting roses, select a location with full sun or at least 6 hours of morning through afternoon sun. You can learn more about planting bare-root roses with Jackson & Perkins rosarian, Paul Zimmerman..

2. Prune Fruit Trees & Plant More Bare-Root Fruit Trees

Pruning fruit trees (but not citrus) in late winter and early spring spurs vigorous new growth in the spring. Pruning when trees are dormant ensures that you don’t cut off any fruits, buds, or structural branches. There are several reasons to prune fruit trees including to shape the tree, remove broken branches, spur growth, and to open up the tree so all branches (and later, fruit) receive ample sunlight. Read more about how to prune fruit trees. Also, if you’re interested in adding to your backyard orchard, many nurseries and online retailers will also have bare-root fruit trees available for purchase. To order online, check out Raintree Nursery or Stark Bros.

3. Sow Cool-Season Crops Indoors

Sowing most summer vegetables such as eggplant and melons indoors can wait. There are, however, some cool-season crops you can start this month. For more northern climates you’ll only be starting onions, leeks, and parsley. If you're a little further south, then there’s more to plant—beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, celery, eggplant, kale, lettuce, mustard, onion, tomatoes, and basil. Use this calculator to find the exact seed starting date for your area based on your average last frost date (you’ll need to know this date or look it up at the Old Farmer's Almanac). When starting seeds indoors, you’ll want a few supplies. Seed-starting kits and grow lights make life easy.

4. Water Evergreens as Snow and Ice Thaws

Freezing temperatures, frozen soil, and cold winds can wreak havoc on plants. As snow and ice thaws, be sure to water evergreens such as boxwoods, conifers, holly, azaleas and rhododendrons. The water will help prevent winter burn. Be sure to water when temperatures are rising and warmer weather is predicted going forward (you want to avoid watering before a cold storm).

5. Add Compost or Soil Amendments

As the weather thaws, add a layer of compost or other soil amendment over vegetable and ornamental garden beds to replenish the soil. Consider using a no-till method in preparing your soil. Rototillers can destroy soil structure and bring dormant weeds to the surface. Instead, with the no-till method, you lay several layers of compost over existing soil. This method can also be used to kill grass and expand garden beds. (Learn more about this method.) Garden expert Charles Dowding also has a great video that shows you how to create a new raised bed using the no-till method.

6. Plan to Garden Vertically

Adding trellises, arbors, or structures for vines will create lots of space to grow beautiful flowering vines such as sweet peas, clematis, honeysuckle, passion flower, morning glory, cardinal flower, climbing roses, and more. If you’re searching for easy trellises or arbors, check out Gardener's Supply Company. To find flowering vines, visit online retailers such as Proven Winners.

7. Consider Adding a Water Garden

In-ground ponds as well as container ponds can add soothing sounds and attract wildlife to your garden. If you’re adding an in-ground pond, watch this series of videos for a DIY tutorial. There are also pond kits available online. For a container- or basin-style pond, the first thing you need is a large container that will hold water. Look for one at your local nursery or order one online. Some people also use stock tanks for basin ponds because they are available from feed stores such as Tractor Supply Co. They are inexpensive compared to in-ground ponds and come in many different depths and sizes. You’ll also want to add a pond bubbler or fountain to help aerate the water. Adding aquatic plants such as water lilies, fairy moss, horsetail reed, or duckweed can help beautify your pond and keep the water clean. Shop for aquatic plants through Waterford Gardens or Lily Blooms Aquatic Gardens.

8. Plant & Use Hellebores

Hellebores are the jewels of the late-winter and early-spring garden. If you have hellebores already, find ways to bring them indoors for flower arrangements and to photograph in different ways (see how gardener and photographer Georgianna Lane uses her hellebores). This is also a great time to plant hellebores when they are available at local nurseries, or online through retailers such as Proven Winners or Burpee.

9. Think Native This Season

As you’re planning out your garden and thinking more about what to add, focus on native plants. Not only are native plants adapted to regional weather patterns which makes them easy to grow, nearly all native plants attract wildlife to the garden. By planting native you’re helping support the local food web. Learn more about planting natives in this video with Joe Lamp'l and entomologist Doug Tallamy. If you want to know what to plant in your local area look for plant recommendations through the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder. Expert Doug Tallamy also has several books available if you want to dive deeper into native plants and local ecology: Bringing Nature Home and The Living Landscape.

10. Check Up on Houseplants

By the end of winter, many houseplants need a refresh. Dry indoor air, lack of attention over the holidays, and less sunlight can take their toll. Give your houseplants a spa treatment by moving them to a bathroom for a day or two where you can water them well and provide extra humidity. When you move your houseplants back to their spots, make sure they are getting the proper amount of sunlight (if you don’t know the amount of light your plants need, take a look at this quick video). Fertilize your plants with a houseplant fertilizer if you haven’t been doing so over the winter. It’s also a good idea to evaluate plants that have grown and consider repotting them, as well as look for any pest issues.