“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.” Melody Beattie. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis.

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier.

“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson.

“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” – Robin Sharma.

“Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie.

“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.” – Michael Josephson.

“Take your eyes off the rear-view mirror of yesterday and focus them through the windshield of tomorrow. Look towards finishing well in all that you do.” – Eddie D. Seagle.

Another year has passed and a new one has begun. Make this year one to remember! Enjoy the cooler conditions as winter continues its journey into a new month. In the landscape, leave the deadened parts on your plants for now. They will help buffer the plants from potential cold damage over the next few weeks. If you remove them now, such removal could encourage new growth which could soon be killed by the arrival of additional colder temps before winter’s end.

Begin planning your annual and perennial planting list for the spring. Also, transplanting existing perennials and woody plants can continue. Managing your roses by planting, pruning or moving them is best in February. Also, in February, plan to prune the dead wood from all the flowering and non-flowering plants, and cut hydrangea back to ¾ of their growth. The transplanting season continues for all container plants. If freezing temps happen, then delay pruning and transplanting activities.

Bird feeders and bird baths: Be sure to keep your bird feeders filled with bird seed to service all the birds that come your way. Clean any older food left behind from the bird feeder, giving space for fresh food. Also, clean the bird baths and keep sufficient water levels in them to quinch their thirst and allow them to splatter about.

Bird houses: Now is the time to clean out and clean-up your birdhouses. Replace rotted wood, re-paint as needed, and check the stability of the support post. Your birds will thank you later in the season for completing this task and giving them a clean home.

Crape myrtles: You can propagate crape myrtles from hardwood cuttings of last year’s growth. Make the cuttings about six-inches long, and insert in a flat containing a mixture of equal parts of perlite and peat moss. The medium should be well-drained. The cuttings should be rooted and ready to transplant into containers by early summer.

Garden cleanup: Continue removing refuse from lawns, landscape beds and flower areas. Any leaves and dead plants remaining on the ground now will hinder the spring recovery of lawn grasses and perennial flowers. Remove all plant waste to the compost pile, sprinkle it with fertilizer, soak the pile, and turn it over once each week. The compost will be ready to use by early summer. Otherwise, properly dispose or safely burn the debris according to local ordinances.

Greenhouse: This month, sow impatiens, marigolds, scarlet sage (salvia), zinnias, verbena, speedwell, balsam, and coleus in the greenhouse to transplant in the landscape garden after the last spring frost. Coleus, begonias, and geraniums can also be grown from cuttings. Vegetables to sow now for April transplanting include eggplant, bell peppers and tomatoes.

Groundcovers: Place your lawn mower on the highest setting and mow the mondo grass and liriope later in February. This procedure will allow the plants a fresh start at the beginning of the new season. Apply proper mulch to prevent weeds and add to the curb appeal. In establishing new plantings, select the proper plant materials for the host microenvironment whether sun, shade, or a mix.

Knock-out roses: Knock-out roses can be pruned in February (after the middle of the month). They can be pruned to about one foot from the ground level with 5-7 strong canes. New purchases are either in container or bare root packed. Look at the grade (1, 1.5, 2) and select the one most favorable to you. A grade “1” has better quality than a grade “2”, but either works.

Lantana: Lantana can be pruned after the severe weather has passed for the season (mid- to late February). They can be pruned to about one foot from the ground level and selecting strong support leaders to start the new generation of growth for the season.

Pets: Continue to monitor the night weather and keep outdoor dog houses warm and clean or bring your outdoor pets inside protecting them from any harsh conditions. They are family and their safety is most important.

Pine cones and sticks: Continue to pick up all pine cones and limb debris from the lawn and landscape bed areas for curb appeal. These items can be used effectively as starter wood for your burn piles and burn barrels.

Valentine’s Day is a good timing benchmark to follow in deciding when to begin your basic pruning of roses and lantana, etc., if and only if, all the severe winter weather has passed. Otherwise, wait a week or so because the intact growth will serve as a buffer to protect the rest of the plant from further cold damage.

Late February is usually the time for pruning your summer flowering trees and shrubs, such as crape myrtles and knock-out roses. Just be sure that any extremely cold weather is behind us. This is not the time to prune the needle evergreens.

Get prepared for the upcoming hectic pace that will develop throughout all your yard activities in February and March. Happy New Year to all!

“For the sake of His great name the Lord will not reject His people, because the Lord was pleased to make you His own.” 1 Samuel 12:22. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21. “Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” Luke 12:23. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24. “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?” Hebrews 12:25. “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Psalm 90:2.