Gardening jobs for February

If you took up gardening during the previous lockdowns, you might be thinking there isn’t much you can be doing at this time of year on your plot. However, there is still lots to be getting on with.

As part of our #GetGardening series, we’ve put together a list of jobs you can do in February, however tempting it is to stay in the warmth of your own home.

Please do wrap up warm when going outside and be careful of ice on the ground.

Plant 

• Geranium and parsley seeds can be planted in pots on windowsills to get some early growth started
• Plant evergreens like ivy and laurel. It’s also the last chance to trim established ivy
• Asparagus, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb can be planted this month
• Strawberries can be planted as soon as they become available
• Plant anemonies, gladioli, ranuculus and tiger lilies
• Sow sweet peas and other seeds if you have heating in your greenhouse.

Prune 

• Prune trees such as willow, fruit and roses
• Summer flowering shrubs can be pruned if there is no sign of budding on the plants, if you do prune when the plant has begun to bud then it will result in a lower flower count
• Trim back any branches that were damaged by the winter weather
• Grapes must be pruned by Valentine’s Day to prevent sap ‘bleeding’
• Divide clumps of perennials
• Cut back winter flowering shrubs as they finish flowering.

Other jobs to do 

• Aerate and rake lawns
• Remove dead or dried leaves from houseplants
• Get prepared for your busy period by cleaning and repairing equipment
• Sweep paths and treat with a moss killer if needed

If we do end up with some exceptionally cold weather during the coming weeks then it’s very important to keep early flowering or tender plants protected by covering them. Remove the covering as soon as the weather begins to improve again.

If you’re more of an indoors gardener and have a variety of houseplants, then due to the days growing longer, your plants may start growing again. You can begin feeding them again but use a dilute 50% fertiliser mix until the growth is well established.