There’s always something to be doing in the garden, whether it’s pruning, tidying or sowing, so we’ve put together our top gardening tasks for February.
See what’s looking good in the flower garden or vegetable garden this month.
Timely Tips
In the Flower Garden
Now is the time to prune your Wisteria. Prune your Wisteria now, cutting back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds.
Towards the end of the month prune summer-flowering Clematis before active growth begins – find out how with our clematis pruning guide.
Cut back shrubs such as Cornus and Salix cultivars (grown for their colourful winter stems) down to their bases.
Cut back the old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins – clip them to within a few centimetres of the ground.
Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot.
Prune Winter Flowering Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) after flowering to encourage new growth for next year’s blooms. Cut back the previous years growth to 5cm from the old wood.
Now is the time to prune your winter flowering shrubsPrune winter flowering shrubs such as Mahonia and Viburnum x bodnantense after their colourful display has finished.
Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent the plants becoming leggy.
Remove any faded flowers from your winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage a flush of new flowers when the weather warms up.
Lift and divide snowdrops still ‘in the green’ if you want to move them or create more plants.
If you need to move deciduous trees or shrubs, now is the time to do it provided the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
Plant your Lily and Allium bulbsPlant Lilies and Allium bulbs.
Plant bare root roses in a sunny position for spectacular summer colour.
Plant fragrant winter flowering shrubs to add interest to borders. Try Daphne, Viburnum x bodnantense, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) and Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox).
Hardwood cuttings taken last year may need planting or potting on now.
Pot on rooted cuttings of tender perennial plants taken last summer.
Look out for Hellebore leaf spot (rounded brown spots on the leaves) and remove any leaves that are affected.
In the Vegetable Garden
Start chitting potatoes in a bright, cool, frost-free place.Start chitting early potatoes – stand them on end in a module tray or egg box and place them in a bright, cool, frost-free place.
Force rhubarb plants for an early crop. Plant new rhubarb crowns now.
Mulch perennial vegetables such as Asparagus and Artichokes with well rotted manure or garden compost.
Start sowing vegetable seeds such as leeks, onions and celeriac under cover now.
Raised beds warm up quicker and drain faster on heavy soilIf you garden on heavy clay soil but want to make an early start in the garden, build raised beds before the growing season gets under way. The soil will warm up faster and raised beds drain quickly too.
Prepare vegetable seed beds by removing all weeds and forking in plenty of compost. Cover prepared soil with sheets of black plastic to keep it drier and warmer in preparation for spring planting.
In the Fruit Garden
Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground to stimulate new canes, which will fruit in the autumn. Cut the tips of summer-fruiting raspberry canes that have grown beyond the top of their supports; cut just above a bud.
Continue to plant raspberry canes for the summerContinue to plant raspberry canes for the coming summer.
Prune apple trees and pear trees whilst they’re still dormant. Leave plum trees, cherry trees and apricots until the summer as pruning these fruit trees now will make them susceptible to Silver Leaf disease.
Prune blackcurrant bushes, gooseberries and redcurrants to maintain a productive framework. Currant bushes can also still be planted between now and the spring.
Protect the blossoms of apricots, peaches and nectarines. These stone fruit trees can also be planted now.
Mulch fruit trees with well rotted manure or garden compost taking care not to mound mulch up around the trunk.
In the Greenhouse
Don’t be tempted to sow too many seeds this early in the season – they may become leggy due to low light levels. Later sowings will catch up and grow just as fast.
For better seed germination, invest in an electric propagator to help your early sowings along.
Soak sweet pea seeds in tepid water overnight before planting them, to speed up germination.
Looking After Your Lawn
With spring on the way it’s worth preparing your lawn for the season ahead. Try installing lawn edging which creates a neat and tidy appearance and makes maintenance easier.
Other Jobs About the Garden
Trim deciduous hedges before the birds start nesting.
Vines such as Ivy, Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy can be cut back now to keep windows, gutters and roof tiles clear.
Shred or chop woody pruning’s for the compost binIf you’re adding woody prunings to compost bins, shred or chop them first as they are slow to decompose.
Wash empty pots by scrubbing them with hot water and a mild detergent. Rinse them well afterwards.
The weather is still cold this month so hang fat balls and keep bird feeders topped up to attract birds, who will in turn eat pests in your garden.
Install water butts now ready for the summer. Rainwater is particularly useful for watering acid-loving, ericaceous plants (tap water is often slightly alkaline).
If you don’t already know what type of soil you have, invest in a soil testing kit to help you choose the right plants for your garden.
If all you can see from your windows are unattractive sheds, composting areas and bins this winter, think about using evergreen climbers such as Clematis armandii to screen the area, or just to add winter interest. Bamboo plants also make a fantastic screen.
From Your Armchair
Sort your seeds by sowing date, month by month.
If you haven’t already, plan your vegetable plot for this year to ensure good crop rotation and prevent pests and diseases building up in the soil.
Order your seeds and plug plants online now. Having a garden plan drawn up will help you decide the quantities you need.
Consider using containers and hanging baskets filled with bedding plants to add colour to your patio.
Order your onion sets and asparagus crowns now ready for planting in the spring.
Order flower bulbs for summer colour such asLily of the Valleyand Gladioli in preparation for spring planting.
If you fancy growing potatoes but are struggling for space in your vegetable plot this year, try using potato grow bags.
Order your fruit trees now for planting in early spring. If space is limited in your garden try growing dwarf fruit trees, or edging vegetable plots with step over apple and pear trees.
source: Thompson & Morgan
