Gardening in February
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Although February is not the best month to do much planting, camellias and azaleas are the exception. They are some of the few plants that are dormant while in bloom so transplanting should not have any effect on their buds. Be sure to keep the ground clean around all your shrubs and perennials that are prone to fungal diseases, especially camellias. Rain can turn the buds and blooms brown around the edges of camellias so it makes sense to pick them all off after it rains so their energy goes into the unblemished blossoms. This is also a good reason not to plant them near overhead sprinklers.
Deadhead winter blooming flowers to extend their bloom. Cut back any perennials and shrubs that have gotten leggy or woody over the cool months. Look for basal growth at the base of the stems and cut back to that spot. Cut back any tropical plants that have suffered with the cold weather such as begonias and cannas.
Spreading around some organic fertilizer this month will reward you with strong growth and blooms in the following warmer months. Organics do not have the stimulating effect that synthetics do, so they will not force plants to put out tender growth while the temperatures are still cool.
Keep watch for snails and slugs that tend to be active in the damp weather. Handpick them and dispose of them in soapy water or use organic bait that will not harm pets.