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| Four Seasons Hemet Herald | February 2020 | 21 February Tips for Southern California Gardens: Ready to get outside, but don't quite have a plan? As temperatures start warming up, get going with a little cleanup and planting. • Cut back woody and overgrown perennials. If in doubt, look at the base of the plant. If it is sending up fresh growth there, you can safely cut off the dead or old plant material now. • Cut back old foliage from ornamental grasses, liriope (monkey grass) and mondo grass to just a few inches high. (Tip: If you or your neighbor have a power hedge clipper, it will make short work of tough-stalked ornamental grasses.) • You can prune evergreens this month, but avoid pruning them later on this spring and summer. Fertilizers -- Fertilize roses and fertilize perennials at the end of the month and keep them watered. You can use chemical fertilizers (follow package directions on amount and frequency) or organic fertilizers, such as compost, fish emulsion, and others. • In the low desert and other hot areas, feed citrus, avocado, and deciduous trees now. In cooler coastal or higher zones, wait until next month. • Late this month or early next, if desired, apply a pre-emergent weed killer to beds and borders. It will greatly reduce weeds later on. However, it works by preventing seeds from germinating, so don't apply anywhere you're planting seeds. Planting Trees and Shrubs - Plant container-grown trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, ground covers, and perennial flowers. Plant warm- season annual flowers and vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, petunias and the like) after all danger of frost has passed but in enough time for them to beat the summer heat. In hot desert areas, for example, that means no later than mid-February. If in doubt, give a quick call to the garden center nearest you. Microclimates and growing conditions can vary radically within just a few miles of each other and in places like Southern California, within just a few blocks of each other. Late Bloomers meet every second Monday at 1 pm in the Lodge Craft/Art Room. Off-site excursions will be announced in advance, and may be in lieu of our regular meeting. All Four Seasons residents are welcome to attend both meetings and excursions. For more information, please contact Sharon Deuber at (760) 500-0077 or Sharon@BlackDiamondInvestments.net. "Late Bloomers" Garden Club Heartfelt Wishes for 2020!