February gardening guide
At a time of year when wintery weather is still in force but those big garden projects can't wait any longer, we need to make the most of each sunny day that comes along in February. Spring is on its way soon and with the lengthening days and (slightly) warmer weather, February sees the first signs of life starting to emerge in your garden.
Checklist
- Rake soil to form a seed bed surface
- Spread in general fertiliser, such as chicken manure
- Plant out shallots
- Plant out onion sets
- Sow seeds of turnips, summer cabbage, early peas and broad beans
- Use cloches to warm the soil for early sown seeds
- Start greenhouse tomatoes indoors
- Carry out any hard pruning of bush roses
- Plant raspberry canes or hard prune autumn fruiting raspberries
- Move any fruit before it shoots
Top Tips
Tread carefully on your borders! Plants and bulbs just below the surface of the soil are vulnerable to damage from feet and tools. Soil structure is also damaged if trampled in very wet weather.