February is the perfect time to prepare for spring

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• January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

  January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

  Q. What tasks should I be doing in my garden in January? — Philomena Reid

  A: If you’re interested in working off that holiday fare, look no further than your garden. January is a quiet month, especially on the first, and meditation is never better than when working outdoors. But just because you have survived the holidays does not mean that it is now the time to sit back and watch the weeds grow.

  The Rose Parade may be inviting, but planting a rose bush of your own is infinitely more rewarding. January is just the month. Bare-root roses are available and ready to plant. Choose according to growth habit and your growing conditions. Along the coast, disease-resistant varieties thrive in cooler conditions.

• Pointers for permanently planting poinsettias

  Pointers for permanently planting poinsettias

  Q: My Christmas poinsettias usually look good well into the New Year. Will they bloom next year if I plant them in the garden? — Jan Hendrickson, Pismo Beach

  A: Old-fashioned California gardens often featured poinsettias, flowers that exemplified frost-free winters here. However, as people wanted more potted poinsettias for holidays, varieties were developed with large blooms and unusual colors. You may not have the perfect place to grow one outdoors, but they can bloom next year if left in their pots indoors, if you have the necessary time and space.

  During the holiday season place your plants in a bright light but out of direct sunlight and away from drafts. Do not subject them to extremes of temperature. They are happiest in daytime temperatures of around 70 degrees and nights not much lower than 60 degrees. Water them when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch and then water enough so excess water runs out the bottom of the pot.

• May in the garden: Plant, feed, beware of frost

  May in the garden: Plant, feed, beware of frost

  May is a month for planting, fertilizing and controlling pests. But don’t be fooled by a late frost.

  Plant dahlias and gladiolus for summer color. For annuals you can plant dianthus and pansies. As the nights become warmer you can hang baskets of fuchsias and geraniums. For perennials, shop for summer and fall color with asters, coreopsis, and cornflowers.

  Now is the time to check the needs of your lawn. Aerate, feed and over-seed to get rid of bald patches. Around mid-month, feed your lawn with an even coat of highnitrogen fertilizer, watering thoroughly after application.

• There’s much to be done in a June garden

  There’s much to be done in a June garden

  Q: My garden is in full bloom and I’ve kept up on weeding. What now? — Jeanne Savage, Cambria

  A: It’s time to breathe in the cool moist air of June. Spring planting is finished, flowers are in bloom, and some edibles are ready for harvest. Automatic watering systems have been adjusted for longer days and weeds are under control.

  Vines may need trimming and tying. Bearded irises may have “lost their bloom” and need deadheading and feeding. In coastal zones you can divide bearded irises after flowering is finished. Wait until fall to divide Pacific Coast Irises. Feed Cymbidium orchids regularly.

• Garden on healthy ground

  Garden on healthy ground

  Before they head to the nursery, many savvy gardeners welcome spring by giving their soil a nutrient boost. Building better soil is one specialty of Central Coast Landscape Products, which offers raw materials for the garden such as mulch, rock, sand and soil amendments.

  With about two acres of space, Central Coast Landscape Products has the ability to stock a great variety of materials. This includes around seven types of cobblestones and over 10 kinds of mulch.

  The company sells both to landscape contractors and homeowners. These days, do-it-yourselfers are still tackling landscape projects, but with one difference.