*HALF PRICE WINTER SALE ENDS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT*
ORDER ONLINE OR CALL OUR SALES TEAM ON 01580 765600
You are here: Home »
With February being the wettest and often coldest month of the year, it’s a top priority to get outside and enjoy the fresh air as much as possible. While it’s usually a grey month, there’s always Valentine’s Day to stir some love in the air! Some of you might be starting to sow some seeds and eagerly waiting for the warmer days of spring to arrive. Gardening brings so much hope, just knowing that spring will come and the garden will come alive again is so helpful for wellbeing after a long winter. Although looking forward is so important, it’s just as essential to also be grateful for the present moment. It’s a transitional month and we are all eager for spring but while we wait, there’s still plenty of preparations to do in the garden.
Winter may be in full swing but there will be signs of spring if you take a look around. February is an essential month for tidying up the garden to help promote healthy growth for spring. Clear away leaves, fallen debris and plants that haven’t made it through the winter. Doing this will help to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
On a clear day, give hard landscaping a scrub and clean up. Sitting water, debris and any other garden material will cause algae and slippery surfaces. Use a hard bristle brush, soap and water or an organic patio cleaner to get it sparkling clean and ready for spring.
Check on pathways, stepping stones and fence panels plus anything else that might need some repairs or tidying up. Trimming grass around path edges will help to keep walkways clear and access to the garden easier. Fence repairs now will keep things in place for any late windy weather and are best done before plants start to grow in spring.
If you haven’t mulched your garden beds yet, on a dry day if the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged, give your garden a mulch. It’s the most important aspect of a thriving garden. If you look after your soil, your plants will better thrive. Mulching will help to suppress weeds, retain moisture and keep the temperature regulated. Use well-rotted organic compost, bark clippings or straw which will break down over time and provide nutrients to the soil.
February is a superb month for planting trees and shrubs out because often the ground is moist but not frozen. I say that with caution! The weather varies every year, but as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged there are plenty of options for planting right now.
There are so many trees, shrubs and hedging plants to choose from so take your pick! Survey your garden and choose plants for your soil, aspect and size. Some great plants to consider are:
Your lawn will still be sleeping but there are gentle tasks you can still do to make sure the lawn springs back to life when the sun begins to shine again. If the weather allows, the lawn can be scarified, aerated and weeded but only do this if the weather is mild and will remain so for some time.
During late winter, it may seem like there are few pests about but it’s still wise to keep an eye on your garden especially if temperatures do rise. I very much take the approach that nature will do what it needs to and I tend to leave most ‘pests’ to do their thing while ensuring the garden is as biodiverse as possible. This has always worked for me and if by far more preferable than using any chemicals or eradicating any living creature. The key is in prevention rather than eradication so when you are planning your growing season ahead, think about companion planting, homes for wildlife, crop rotation, bird homes, a pond and plenty of trees and hedging to provide shelter and food for wildlife. At this time of year especially, I like to know if any pests have appeared as this can be a good indication about what might be needed later in the year (such as plants to attract more ladybirds) but without actually doing anything about it. Often mother nature provides a further cold snap which will do the trick anyway.
Diseases do appear at any time of year so when pruning, moving or planting always ensure good airflow around the plants with suggested spacing and keep an eye on undercover structures such as greenhouses and cold frames – you won’t want anything nibbling on your seedlings!
The whippy summer shoots of Wisteria should be cut back to about 2 or 3 buds in January or February to allow for plenty of energy to be used by the plant for strong growth and those well loved flowers in spring and early summer.
Keep your winter flowers blooming for as long as possible and deadhead Pansies, cut back faded Heathers and tidy around them so you can spot the colours in the garden.
I love Hellebores! People often say how sad it is that the flowers droop downwards but I think that’s part of the appeal. With so very many varieties now to choose from, they are a super addition to a winter garden. Some of the foliage can also be cut back to expose the flowers more.
There is something about Snowdrops that truly brings joy in the garden. Just a few under a tree, popping up in the lawn or in containers is all that’s needed to give a huge uplift to gardeners in February. Even better if you can let them naturalise and grow into a carpet of candelabras! Towards the end of the month, there are likely to be Snowdrops available for planting ‘in the green’ meaning after flowering but before all of the foliage has died back. This is a good way to start off Snowdrops in your garden and my preferable way of growing Snowdrops compared to bulbs. There are many varieties often with fun names such as ‘Grumpy’ or ‘Trumps’ and even a white and yellow Snowdrop called ‘Golden Tears’. The latter will blow the budget though – it sold for £1,850 in 2022! Thankfully most won’t break the bank.
I am a particularly patient gardener and tend not to even go to the seed packets until March, but there are some years and some circumstances when things just need to get started and patience is abandoned! So in February there are seeds to be sown on a warm sunny windowsill, propagator or greenhouse. In some areas where the weather is warmer and soil temperatures are higher, some seeds can be sown outside with the protection of fleece.
Since sowing begins this month and for young plants outside, make sure you have the materials to protect young plants from frost damage and bad weather. Have horticultural fleece available, cloches and straw to use as and when needed. Keep an eye on the weather!
If you’ve taken a break from all things gardening over winter, take the chance in February to plan what you will grow and order the seeds and plants you need. Check out previous calendar months for tips of how to go about planning your garden for the year ahead.
Get your garden fork or shovel and give your compost heap a good turn over. It’s easy to forget about the compost pile over winter but giving it a turn now will help to aerate the pile and get decomposition going so you end up with a nutrient rich mix ready to use on your soil soon.
I was once told by an expert Rose grower that if you don’t know what to do with Roses or when to prune them, simply wait until February and cut them back to just above a bud. Simple as that!
If you are growing Willow, now is a good time to give it a prune. Start by removing all dead, diseased or damaged and crossing stems and remove old stems. Try to keep the shape and good air flow. If you do cut back hard, Willows do bound back and the cuttings can be used for supports, crafting and table displays.
In every calendar month, I repeat the importance of looking after garden wildlife! Keep bird tables and feeders clean to prevent the spread of disease, keep them topped up with good food, fresh water in bird baths and add plenty of homes for wildlife and insects in the garden. From bee bricks, to insect hotels, bee hives and bat boxes. Everything will help.
Onions, shallots and garlic can be planted into modules undercover now for a summer harvest. The soil will generally be too cold, so planting them into modules is a good way to get them started.
Raspberries, blackcurrants, bare-root fruiting trees can all be planted out until late winter so do get these planted as soon as you can to give them a chance to establish before spring and so they fruit for summer.
Plug plants are not cheating! If you don’t have the space to sow seeds and have lots of seed trays or the time, perhaps you’ve not been successful with sowing in the past – plug plants are the answer. These can be purchased online and in garden centres. They arrive as small plants at the right time of year to pot on or plant out, which can be really helpful when growing not only vegetables but creating a flower garden as well.
Asparagus is an awesome vegetable to grow at home. It’s expensive in the supermarkets but it’s easy to cook, full of nutrition and actually pretty easy to grow as well. Order Asparagus crowns now which can be planted in spring. As the Asparagus spears grow they shouldn’t be harvested for at least two years but when you do harvest them – it’s totally worth the wait.
Happy February!