It’s only halfway through February in St. Louis, and we’ve already seen two winter snow storms and icing followed by 70+ degree days in the upcoming forecast for the weekend!

These fluctuating temperatures can be confusing to home gardeners, wondering what they should do to maintain and care for their lawn.

So, our team of landscape experts has created this quick cheat-sheet list of simple tasks that you can use, so that when you do make it outdoors, you can easily do the things that will have a big impact on your outdoor space for the upcoming year, all leading up to a successful Spring season!

February Lawn and Garden Tips

• As snowfall is melting, lawns can become overly wet. Avoid damage to your lawn by keeping your foot traffic across lawn-space to a minimum while grass is wet or frozen.

• Consider providing a water source and bird houses, to encourage native birds to nest in your yard. Also, planting a variety of shrubs, trees, and evergreens can provide a wild food source and natural nesting habitat for birds as well.

• Did you receive cut flowers for Valentine’s Day or other special occasion? Extend their life by performing the following steps: 1. Recut stems underwater. This ensures no air gets into the stem. 2. Remove any stem foliage that would be underwater. 3. Use a flower preservative. Most cut flower arrangements come with a commercial mix, but you can make your own! Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach in a quart of warm water, then simply pour into your vase.

• If your houseplants are showing signs of new growth, be sure to fertilize them. However, don’t fertilize plants that are still dormant just yet.

Have other questions about your lawn or garden? Contact one of our team members with your question, and we’d be happy to help! Or, even sign up for our monthly newsletter, that keeps you up-to-date with the latest in local and native plant news and care information.