What Jobs To Do In The Garden In February

February is the month for romance, even the birds and the bees will agree, so what better way to celebrate with your loved one than visiting gardens in your area and garden centers to find some inspiration or just sit back and read this article together, then plan what jobs to do in the garden in February.

February is our shortest month but I hope that you still  find some spare time to get out into your garden as there are numerous tasks that are best done round about now. Let’s make the most of the extra light that we have this month too.

The days are getting longer, birds are busy nesting, singing their hearts out and heralding the warmer months to come. Even though spring is on her way we do need to look at what jobs to do in the garden in February because by keeping up with gardening tasks now, and possibly learning some new gardening know how, you can be assured that everything will be shipshape ready for when those spring-like days arrive.

You will be several steps ahead.

 

 

What Jobs To Do In The Garden In February – Beds and Borders

Prepare seed-beds, whether in your borders or at the veg garden. If the ground is not frozen or waterlogged you can start to prepare them for the coming months. Warm the soil by cloches, polythene, or fleece.

Clear garden beds and the veg plot of perennial weeds. You will find it easier to do it now before they gain a stronghold. Dig them out, roots included.

 

What to Prune in February

Summer flowering climbers such as wisteria, cut back the summer side shoots to about 2 to 3 buds.

Mid summer flowering and late summer flowering clematis also can be pruned this month, cut them back before new growth starts. This is for clematis groups 2 and 3. Do not prune winter or spring flowering clematis.

Check here for information on How to Grow a Clematis, with detailed pruning methods.

Prune fuchsia stems back to one or two new buds.

Cornus that is grown for its winter colour stems can be cut back to ground level to encourage fresh new shoots and winter flowering shrubs such as mahonia, viburnum bodnantense and winter jasmine can also be pruned in February after they have finished flowering.

Old foliage on ornamental grasses can be cut back and tidied up taking care not to damage any new growth.

Dead head any winter flowering bedding plants such as pansies, violas and polyanthus to encourage a second flush of flowers.

Climbing and shrub roses and evergreen shrubs can be pruned/trimmed this month too.

How do you grow roses? secrets of success.

Please ensure to  have these pruning tasks completed before birds need to start finding nest sites so as not to disturb them unnecessarily.

Pro Tip

Always use clean, sharp secateurs and pruning saws to enable you to make a clean cut and help prevent the spread of infection and/or viruses. Felco are my recommendation for pruning tools.

Read my best secateurs review for further information

 

What Vegetables Can I Plant In February?

If you are in a mild area of the UK then you can get an early start on vegetables sown outdoors under cloches. In other area my best advice is to wait a few more weeks until March or April. In the meantime you can put down black sheeting or fleece to help warm the soil quicker.

Here are some early vegetables that you can start now.

• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Broad beans
• Beetroot
• Peas
• Radish
• Summer cabbage
• Spinach
• Salad onions

Direct sow outdoors, if you have light, workable soil.

• Shallots
• Garlic
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Early Broad beans

Vegetables To Grow In The Greenhouse

If you have a warm greenhouse that you are not using to over winter tender plants then the following vegetables can be sown now. A greenhouse heater is a wise investment, here are some of the best small greenhouse heaters

• Cucumber
• Sweet peppers
• Aubergine
• Basil
• Asparagus
• Brassicas
• Celeriac
• Tomatoes

In warmer areas and with good, workable soil conditions you can plant the following fruit if you haven’t done so already.

• Raspberry
• BlackBerry
• Loganberry
• Gooseberry
• Rhubarb
• Red, White and Black currant
• Stone fruit such as nectarine, peach and apricot

Gardening With Heirloom Seeds and Plants 

Flowers To Sow And  Grow In February

In the greenhouse or on a warm windowsill you can start some flower seeds and/or tubers too. If you followed my blog on hardwood cuttings you can pot them on now.

• Begonia
• Dahlia
• Chrysanthemum
• Antirrhinum
• Sweet peas
• Pelargonium
• Lobelia
• Hellebore

What Can I Plant Outdoors In February?

If you didn’t get round to planting lilies and alium bulbs, you still have time to get some in this month. Nerines also need planting now.

Plant bare root roses in a sunny position for summer colour and fragrance. Bare root roses are a little cheaper to buy than pot grown ones. They will have the remainder of winter to establish strong root growth.

Winter flowering shrubs such as viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’, witch hazel, daphne and sarcoccoca, all of which will fill the air with the most wonderful scents.

See 15 Trees and shrubs for winter interest and

20 Colourful plants for winter interest in your garden for further ideas and inspiration.

How To Grow And Care For Hellebores

General Maintenance

Make sure that tools and machinery are in good working order. Particularly powered tools so they are ready for use when you need them in spring. Clean, service and repair them if necessary if this hasn’t been done previously.

Keep path, patios and paved areas clear of debris and weeds. Working regularly in these areas will deter weeds and detritus from becoming out of control.

In the UK there is still a very high possibility of snow, ice and frost, be prepared and keep paths and driveways clear and safe.

Lawn Maintenance

Keep off waterlogged, frosted or snowed lawns as this will damage the grass. However on mild days re-edge lawns at borders, beds and around your trees.

Giving a sharp, clean edge to lawns that is about 8cm deep will keep the lawn edges looking crisp and tidy and will also stop grass from growing into the borders.

This is a job best done while plant growth in the beds is at a minimum, you can see what you’re doing better.

If you are thinking of investing in a new lawn mower ready for the growing season then take a look at my product reviews for cordless lawn mowers and

robotic lawn mowers.

Planting Preparation For The Future

Organise your seed packets in month order for sowing. This makes it so much easier to know when to sow. Even better is to organise them in a box with dividers. Order more seeds if you need them.

Build or buy a composter and start making your own healthy, nutritious, free compost.

Here is how to do so How to Make Compost for the Garden

Order and plant late summer and autumn flowering bulbs and corms.

Don’t forget a card and gift for your loved one for Valentines Day. There are many thoughtful Valentines gift ideas on my website, such as tree and plant gifts from Tree To My Door.

Conclusion

Whichever of the above you are going to do in your gardens over the next few weeks, I hope you enjoy them. Make the most of any good weather windows and benefit from the goodness and well being that gardening affords us.

Have you found this article useful? Please share it with your friends and family and on social media. For further gardening know how that you may find useful read my How To Do posts.

If you have any questions or want to add your views on the topic pop them in the comments box. I enjoy hearing from you and I always reply.

Happy Gardening