Gardening in February

We’ve put together a detailed list of jobs that can be done whilst you’re gardening in February:

Vegetable Garden

It’s time to start planting your broad beans, early carrots and parsnips (under cloches). Shallots can also be planted out. If you’ve got a propagator (heated growing box) you can plant summer cabbage, leeks and onions.

Bedding Plants

Cut the dead flower heads off any faded flowers in your beds to keep them tidy and encourage more colourful blooms in the spring. Tough plants like Lobelia, Pansy, Antirrhinum, Petunia and Impatiens can be planted in glass growing boxes this month (these should be inside to protect from the cold…

Bulbs

Cut the dead flower heads off faded Daffodils. Divide bulbs like Snowdrops and plants.

Climbing Plants

Give summer-flowering plants like Clematis a good cutting back – it will help new growth during the spring.

Containers

Give potted plants an instant boost of nutrients by replacing the top layer of soil with fresh compost.

Fruit

Prune your fruiting raspberries now, cutting all stems back to ground level. While they’re still dormant, prune large apple and pear trees removing dead and dying branches. Plant new fruit bushes for the coming year. For ideas and a great range, pop to your local Homebase.

Greenhouse

Give your greenhouse a good clean to make it nice and light and kill off any pests.

Houseplants

Spruce up your home with some winter houseplants such as Azalea, Cyclamen, Cymbidium or Hyacinths.

Lawn

Repair and re-shape lawn edges. When the weather is better you can lay new turf.

Perennials (winter surviving plants)

If the weather is mild enough, lift and divide your perennial plants to promote healthy and fast growth.

Shrubs

Now is the time to dig up and reposition any garden shrubs. You can also cut back (prune) winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering.

Trees

Try planting Salix Kilmarnock – a beautiful small weeping tree, ideal for little gardens. Available at Homebase between December to March.

Vegetables

Start picking your winter veg like kale, brussel sprouts and cabbages. Start planting beetroot seeds (but make sure you protect them from frosts). You can also plant your first crops of early carrots and broad beans under cloches.