February IS a month that should be removed from the gardener's calendar; it is usually cold, windy and wet and little if any growth is seen. So what to do?Such a month is good for reflection; with the subject of horticulture the science of gardening being a good topic to peruse and increase ones knowledge and understanding of what is or should be done throughout the year. I believe we have not questioned what landscape companies have done as ‘maintenance' and ‘installation' for so long that it is now regarded as ‘general accepted practice', hence my question that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.Plants are found in many types, shapes and sizes, what most of them have in common is similar ‘parts'; roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seed or fruit; they ‘breathe', have cells, grow get sick and die. To grow well they need to be understood, they try and grow and we hack them back, we spray them to kill off pest and disease problems and they survive the onslaught of high concentrations of chemicals, we fertilise with whatever whenever and they struggle along and survive, in periods of drought we sit on the patio sipping our scotch and water as they wither and droop before our eyes, but survive. Just think how good they would look if we actually understood their needs and gave them attention!A typical flowering plant is composed of various parts or organs as mentioned above; an organ is that part of a plant which is distinguished by its shape and has certain particular functions to perform. A typical flowering plant has two systems, that growing below ground the root system and that growing above ground the shoot system which bears the branches, leaves flowers etc.The root performs several functions, the chief two of which are to anchor the plant firmly in the ground, and to absorb water and substances dissolved in it from the soil for the use of the plant. To act as an anchor the root zone will require space in which to grow, hence the need for large planting holes to accommodate this need; likewise nutrients which are dissolved in the soil for uptake therefore regular fertilisation is required.Stems or branches are conduits for passage of water and nutrients to the leaves and growing point; they also become the framework for new growth and foliage. When damaged they can become infected with fungal growth and die back. When pruning it is important to cut at an angle away from a leaf bud or node with a sharp blade.Fertiliser is food for the plants and is required on a regular basis to ensure good growth and health all things being equal. There are numerous formulations of fertiliser products some for specific groups of plants such as palms whilst other formulations are for general use. After you have discussed your needs with your garden centre supplier they should guide you in the right direction as to the right type and formulation as well as application rates. Always check the label to ensure the correct application rates as too little will do little good, whilst too much could have an adverse effect. It simply is a case of ‘if all else fails, read the instructions'.Pruning or as quite often we see in Bermuda hacking is used to the point of ‘overkill'; pruning should be carried out for specific reasons, when carried out on a ‘regular' basis it oft results in a poor shaped plant with potentially poor branch structure and growth for the future. Prune to develop a good branch structure, to remove dead, diseased and damaged wood. More importantly it reduces to almost zero the flowering potential of the plant. Flowers are carried in most cases on stems and branches, and in many cases followed by seed or fruit. Flowering plants should be allowed to flower it seems pointless planting a hibiscus hedge only to have it hacked back to its foliage every time it manages to produce growth!Pest and disease problems can be found throughout the year, again if not sure what the cause of the problem is, ask a professional immediately as with many ‘problems' time can be your enemy. Insects can spread rapidly from one plant to the next as can fungal spores or bacteria etc. When treating the ‘problem' read the label for correct rates of application; if removing ‘damaged' material dispose of it away from the garden area preferably by burning. Always be careful when handling chemicals and use protective clothing such as goggles, face mask, rubber gloves etc.; upon completion of the exercise thoroughly clean the equipment with a tank cleaner or similar. When spraying be careful to avoid spray damage as not all plants have the same tolerance level to specific chemicals. Extreme care should also be taken when spraying herbicides such as Roundup, as spray drift can have a catastrophic effect on foliage.Planting in grass lawn - areas is labour intensive especially with smaller plants, and care should be taken when using equipment around plants. Strimmers can ring a trunk in quick time thus impacting potential growth, whilst mowing machines can badly damage the bark to the point of leaving an ‘open wound'. If you must trim around plants in lawns use a pair of hedge clippers keeping well away from the trunk.Many tasks in the garden are at first glance innocuous and so they are if the task is carried out correctly, timing is often crucial for the best results. I am a great believer in the fact that landscaping is seasonal, therefore mow when the grass is in need of mowing not because its Wednesday and that's when the landscape company comes to the property, likewise only prune when needed, but always keep on top of the weeding!With a little extra TLC just sit back and watch the floriferous display and take all the accolades, you deserve them!Malcolm D Griffiths.griffm[AT]northrock.bm