Landscape

        • Prune tree species that bleed a lot of sap, like maples, elms, dogwoods, walnuts.

        • Fertilize trees and shrubs between now and March 15.

Flowers

        • Fertilize spring bulbs with 10-10-10 fertilizer when the new foliage has emerged from the soil.

        • Start seeds of hardy annuals and perennials like carnations, foxgloves, hollyhocks, purple coneflowers, pansies and petunias.

        • Start tuberous begonias. Plant with the top of the tuber just above the soil surface.

Fruits and vegetables

        • Fertilize fruit trees according to the results of your soil test, or use 16 pounds ammonium nitrate for each year of age for peaches, plums and cherries. For pears, use í pound ammonium nitrate per year of age.

        • Apply dormant oil sprays to fruit trees when temperatures are between 40 and 70 degrees, to control overwintering aphids, mites and scale. Follow label instructions.

        • Start seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi and lettuce indoors under fluorescent lights.

Houseplants

        • Water houseplants with tepid water in the morning when the house is warming up, not in the evening when it is cool.

        • Propagate houseplants like piggyback and hibiscus by stem cuttings. The mother plants will fill in and cuttings will root quickly.

Eco tip

        Starting your own seeds indoors saves money and is fun and rewarding. For best results, use a fluorescent fixture with grow-lights or with one cool-white bulb and one bright-white bulb. Keep the bulbs 6-12 inches from the plants, for 12-16 hours per day.

        Source: Sue Trusty, director of education at the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, 221-0981.

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