- Remove fallen camellia blossoms promptly to prevent petal blight on next year's flowers
- Mistletoe is very difficult to control because reinfestation occurs from nearby infected trees. An infected branch must be removed at its points of origin and at least one foot below the cluster.
Pruning
- Wait to prune spring?flowering plants until after bloom - deciduous magnolias, spiraea, azaleas, and camellias
- Do not apply any treatments to pruning cuts or other wounds, because these materials are ineffective and often detrimental to plant health
Fertilizing
- No fertilization is recommended this month
Planting
- Bare root plants started now, while they are dormant, will have the full advantage of the spring growing season and will be well established during the coming year
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: cyclamen, dahlia
- Fruits and vegetables: bare root cane berries, garlic, leek
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: dianthus, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), toadflax (Linaria maroccana), stock (Matthiola)
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: snowdrop (Galanthus), narcissus
- Trees, shrubs, vines: camellia, Hawthorne (Crataegus)
- Fruits and vegetables: avocado, grapefruit, kumquat, pomegranate
Things to ponder
- Look through garden books for landscaping ideas using drought-tolerant or water-wise plants
- Avoid overhead watering if frost is expected
