Prune hydrangeas by cutting off old, brittle canes. Leave young canes with flower buds attached for this year's growth.

Toward the end of February, prune your fuchsias. Remove any frost damage as well as some of last summer's growth; leave at least two or three healthy leaf buds on each branch.

Apply dormant spray to deciduous trees and shrubs if aphids, scale or whiteflies have been an issue in the past.

Apply tribasic copper sulfate or lime sulfur to your peach trees if peach leaf curl has been a problem. For the Master Gardeners' Fruit Tree and Vine Care Calendar, go to: www.mastergardeners.org/picks/treecalendar.pdf.

Clean up fallen leaves and debris; add them to your compost pile if they are not diseased.

What to plant now

Bare root: asparagus; roses; berries; artichokes; onions; fruit trees such as apple, apricot, cherry, fig, nectarine and pear.

Transplants: arugula, Asian greens, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, peas and spinach. Local nurseries should have a good supply of most of these.

Seeds: arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chard, eggplant, fava beans, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, peas, potatoes and spinach.

Have a question for the Santa Clara County Master Gardeners? Call the hotline, 408-282-3105, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. weekdays or check www.mastergardeners.org.