The Dallas County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA), part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, states in its latest Garden Task List that oak trees need to be pruned before Feb. 15 to minimize the chance of oak wilt infestation. If you must prune them after Feb. 15 and before June 30, always “paint” the cut end with tree wound paint, being very careful not to paint over the collar of the cut.    

Here are a few more to-dos from the DCMGA’s February Task List:  

  • Plant early spring-blooming annuals like dianthus, petunias and alyssum in late February.  
  • Prune other shade trees and woody shrubs as necessary to remove dead wood and improve structure.  
  • Prune all standard roses, except climbing varieties, by about 50 percent by mid-February.  
  • Apply pre-emergent herbicides to established lawns to control warm season broadleaf and grassy weeds, such as dandelions and crabgrass, no later than early March.     

Tree Planting Guide 

Website: February Garden Tasks – Dallas County Master Gardeners Association