February
February brings the rain, Thaws the frozen lake again.
— Sara Coleridge, The Garden Year (1834)
The garden begins to wake
February may still feel like winter, but the gardening year is beginning to gather pace. There are seeds to sow, trees and shrubs to prune and beds to prepare for spring.
Making use of mild, dry days now can give both your garden and your seedlings a valuable head start.
Start seeds indoors
Get an early start by sowing tomatoes, peppers, chillies, cucumbers and sweet peas indoors.
Providing warmth and good light gives these plants time to develop before conditions outside are suitable for planting them out.
Plant late spring bulbs
If you still have late-arriving tulip or daffodil bulbs, don't discard them.
Get them into the ground as soon as conditions allow. They may flower later or less vigorously than bulbs planted in autumn, but planting gives them the opportunity to establish.
Trim hedges and prune shrubs
February provides an opportunity to trim deciduous hedges before the bird-nesting season gets underway. Always check carefully for signs of nesting activity before starting work.
Summer-flowering shrubs such as Buddleja and Hydrangea paniculata can also be pruned before their new season's growth develops.
Prune fruit trees
Winter is a good time to prune apple, pear and other suitable fruit trees while they are dormant.
Remove appropriate dead, damaged or congested growth and work towards maintaining a healthy, open structure.
Clear away winter debris
Rake leaves and accumulated organic material from lawns and clear old foliage from beds as new growth begins to emerge.
Woody prunings can be shredded for composting where suitable, helping turn garden waste into a useful resource.
Mulch your beds
Apply a layer of mulch to beds and borders.
Mulching can help suppress early weeds, protect the soil and reduce temperature fluctuations as winter gradually gives way to spring.
Prepare empty beds
When conditions are suitable, turn over the soil in empty flowerbeds ready for the coming planting season.
Avoid working very wet or frozen soil. Waiting for better conditions can prevent unnecessary damage to its structure.
Get to know your soil
February is a useful time to consider testing your soil's pH and nutrient levels.
Understanding whether your soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline can help you choose suitable plants and identify whether particular nutrients may be needed.
Wildlife to look out for
February can bring some of the first noticeable signs that wildlife is responding to the approaching spring.
Look for early bumblebees venturing out during mild spells and visiting winter and early-spring flowers.
Bird activity begins to increase. Robins, blackbirds, blue tits and great tits may become more territorial and start investigating potential nesting sites. This is another reason to complete necessary hedge work early and always check before cutting.
In mild weather, frogs may begin returning to garden ponds, with frogspawn sometimes appearing before the end of the month.
Most hedgehogs will still be hibernating, although individuals can occasionally emerge during warmer periods. Undisturbed piles of leaves, logs and other sheltered areas remain important.
One last tip
February can offer tantalising glimpses of spring, but don't let a few mild days persuade you that winter has finished.
Use good weather to prepare, prune and sow under cover while allowing outdoor conditions to determine how quickly you proceed.
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