EARLY VEGETABLE GARDENING

February is the time to start planting your early vegetables.  Click on this link for detailed information on Home Vegetable Gardening.  Soon it will be time to start your seeds for your summer garden. You may be interested in expanding your gardening horizons by building a small greenhouse.  Simple plans can be found at Backyard Greenhouses.  If you want to make something on a smaller scale, watch this short video showing some simple Cold Frames which might work best for you.  Won't it feel good to get out and dig in the dirt again?

GARDEN EXPO

Beat the winter time blues and blahs.  Come out to the Greenville Convention Center February 5 & 6th to get a jumpstart on sprucing up and/or adding to your landscape.  There is a great line up of speakers, lots of vendors, and colorful displays that are sure to inspire you.  Plus you can bring your questions to the Extension Master Gardener booth.  Visit the website at http://www.carolinagardenexpo.com for all the details.

GREENSCAPING

It should be no surprise that according to the NC Drought Monitor (Click on the link in the right column under 'Helpful Links' to see the diagram) no county in NC is under any alert.  But we all know how quickly that status can change.  So while you are keeping warm inside and planning your future garden plantings, it can be beneficial to learn about GreenScaping.  GreenScaping encompasses a set of landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of your lawn and garden while protecting and preserving natural resources.   The 5 basic steps to follow are:
1) Build & maintain healthy soil.
2) Plant right for the site.
3) Practice smart watering.
4) Adopt a holistic approach to pest management.
5) Practice natural lawn care.
More detailed information can be obtained by calling the Hotline and leaving your name and address and requesting the GreenScaping brochure.