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FOOTHILLS & BAY AREA # Tend to your summer shade garden this week. Start colorful tuberous begonias indoors now. Move them outside in late March. #Early February is a good time to start seeds of tomatoes and peppers indoors. # Remove old flowers on camellias to reduce the chance of petal blight. # Place three inches of mulch around trees and shrubs to keep weeds under control. Keep the mulch at least an inch away from the trunks and stems to avoid rot. # Azaleas in bloom are arriving at stores now. Head to your favorite garden center for best selection. # Mid-February is the best time to apply your final (or only) application of dormant spray for peach leaf curl, brown rot and scale on your stone fruit trees. #Asparagus shoots are starting to pop up now. They'd appreciate a feeding of a balanced fertilizer. # Blooming plants for your Valentine's Day sweetheart include azaleas, cyclamen, tulips, hydrangeas and orchids. # Finish pruning your roses by mid-February. # Dahlia bulbs are available in area nurseries. For best selection, choose them now then plant them in the garden in late March for a rich array of color and different flower forms. # According to several nurserypeople, now is a good time to transplant azaleas and camellias. # Snails will soon begin their yearly trek to your tender, young foliage. Look for them hiding beneath plants and lumber piles now before they get started munching. # Before planting your flower and vegetable beds, mix in compost to help condition the soil. # Despite the warmer days, it's still winter. Leave freeze-damaged leaves on plants for a couple more weeks, to protect and insulate any new growth from a March cold snap. # Tuberous begonia bulbs are available at nurseries now. For a sure winner, select the largest and healthiest looking bulbs. # It's not too late to plant winter and spring blooming annuals such as pansies, snapdragons, calendulas and alyssum. # Sharpen lawn mower blades and change the mower's oil before lawn cutting becomes a weekly job. # Eliminate mosquito breeding areas in your yard before the buzzing begins in earnest. Empty any rain-filled containers around the yard.
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