In the Garden with Jane Dale - What to do in February

February is the month that we feel we have ‘turned the corner’ with regard to the weather, the days are starting to get longer, snowdrops and aconites are in bloom and other spring flowering bulbs are pushing out of the ground.

Seasonally February is late winter, so don’t be fooled, February can often provide us with some of the bleakest weather. Whatever the weather there is no doubt that spring is on its way, very soon the early flowering shrubs will be blooming, with some producing a wonderful fragrance too e.g. Hamamelis (witch hazel); Sarcococca hookeriana (Christmas box) and Vibernum bodnantense ‘Dawn’.

Tasks for February...

When the weather permits there are a number of things you can do in the garden:

• Apply organic-based fertiliser to beds and borders i.e. bonemeal; blood, fish and bone; pelleted chicken manure.
• Top dress any containers that have shrubs in them.
• Prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering.
• Prune summer flowering shrubs and climbers.
• Clear any ‘old’ foliage and seed heads from perennial plants.
• If the weather is mild you may need to cut the lawn - just a light trim to tidy it up.
• Trim hedges and overgrown shrubs before the end of the month - this shouldn’t be carried out during the bird nesting season (March 1st - July 31st) under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
• Prune apple and pear trees - ideally the pruned tree should take the form of a wine glass i.e. no branches in the middle of the tree. This will provide even sunlight to every part of the tree.
• Prune wisteria - shorten side shoots to two or three buds from the main stems. By pruning now you can see what you are doing, it also encourages flower buds to form.

In a cold spell remember to:

• Feed the birds and make sure there is water available.
• Make an air hole in frozen ponds.
• Protect tender plants and blossom on fruit trees.

And whatever the weather:

• Start ‘chitting’ seed potatoes.
• Force rhubarb (cover it) - you can buy bell shaped terracotta rhubarb forcers, but if your budget won’t extend to purchasing one, then you can use a large upturned plastic planter.
• Get ahead by checking that you have all you are going to need for the coming season e.g. compost, canes, pots and seed trays, and perhaps spend a little time thinking about what plants you may want in your summer containers.

So until March, enjoy your garden when you can!

Jane Dale of ‘Designed Gardens’. Tel: 07983 392 411.