Gardeners Checklist: Here Is What to Do on the Week of Feb. 24

By Ron Kujawski

* Detach some plantlets from the runners of spider plants and place these in a shallow container of water. The plantlets should already have what look like the beginnings of roots; once they are in contact with water these rudimentary roots will begin to grow. Pot up the plantlets in a compost-rich potting mix when the roots are about one inch long. If you have a spider plant reluctant to develop runners, keep the plants in total darkness for 14 hours each day. That will teach ‘em.

* Discourage your cat and/or dog from dining on house plants by sprinkling leaves with fresh ground pepper or cayenne pepper. The pepper will stick better if leaves are first mist-sprayed with water. Cats and dogs will eat almost any houseplant but beware that many houseplants are toxic to pets. The pepper will discourage nibbling unless your pet develops a craving for spicy food.

* Prune blueberry bushes and grape vines. Unfortunately, most people tend to neglect the pruning of these “small fruit” plants. Annual pruning is essential as it stimulates new growth and ensures constant rejuvenation of the plants. Without this annual renewal, the plants get old and tend to produce fewer and smaller fruit. As my mother often reminded me, “It’s no good to get old.” Sadly, I’m not a plant so I don’t have an alternative.

 * Begin pruning fruit trees. Prune apple and pear trees first. Peach, cherry, and plums are best pruned in late March or early April.

* Keep eyes peeled (Yikes, that must hurt!) for announcements of garden lectures, symposia, and courses. This is the favorite time of year for horticultural societies, gardening clubs and organizations, colleges, garden centers, and, of course, the Berkshire Botanical Garden, to present educational programs for the public.

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Despite several days of “warm” temperatures over the last few days of February, there should be a lot of lions running around during the first and frigid week of March. Despite the lions, there are some signs in the landscape that give me hope that a lamb will appear before long. (I just hope the lions don’t eat the lamb.) As the snow and ice melt away, you may spot some snowdrops (Galanthus) in bloom. Another plant coming into bloom in many landscapes is witchhazel.  There are several kinds of late-winter blooming witchhazels: there is the vernal witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis), Chinese witchhazel (Hamamelis mollis), Japanese witchhazel (Hamamelis japonica) and the many hybrids (Hamamelis x intermedia) of the Japanese and the Chinese witchhazels. The hybrids have larger flowers and are more fragrant than the vernal witchhazel. So, get out and look for these late-winter bloomers.  Just beware of marauding lions.

Ron Kujawski began gardening at an early age on his family's onion farm in upstate New York. Although now retired, he spent most of his career teaching at the UMass Extension Service. He serves on Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Advisory Committee. His book, Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook, is available here.