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
Planning
Stock up on compost and fertilizers for the season ahead.
Plan any new borders now and start to dig them over ready to plant up later on.
Start looking at lawn weed and feed for March.
Order your summer bulbs now ready for spring planting.
Planting
Start sowing your summer bedding plants including Lobelia, Antirrhinum and Marigolds in a heated propagator.
If the ground isn’t frozen, plant out your potted trees, shrubs and perennials.
Plant shallots and garlic in beds of firm soil towards the end of the month.
Now is the time to plant any fragrant winter flowering shrubs.
Plant Hellebores now, when you can select by flower colour.
Maintenance
Clean out all of your empty containers with hot water and disinfectant, rinsing well afterwards.
It’s a good idea to have your mower serviced before the grass really starts to grow.
Tidy your borders, cutting down last year’s dead growth from hardy perennials and spreading a thick layer of mulch once any weeds are removed.
If you’re growing peas, beans and salad crops, incorporate well-rotted manure or garden compost now.
Fences and trellis’s should be checked and repaired if needed while climbing plants are still dormant.
Prepare for drier weather now by installing a water butt.
Give your shed a thorough clear out.
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.
Pruning
It’s time to prune your wisteria back to two flower buds to form a spur.
Prune late flowering clematis to a pair of healthy buds back to about 30cm.
Remove the dead heads from early daffodils as the flowers fade, allowing leaves to die back naturally.
Prune winter flowering shrubs and Jasmine.
Overwintered Fuchsias should be pruned back to one or two buds on a shoot.
Lift and divide clumps of Snowdrops when they’ve finished flowering.
Wildlife and pests
If you come across any hibernating Ladybirds during a spring tidy up, leave them undisturbed so they can produce larvae that will take care of aphids later on.
Carry on encouraging birds into the garden to dispose of pests.
Harvesting
Harvest your Brussel sprouts if they are still going strong.
The first sprouting broccoli will appear now ready for picking.
