Jobs for February

February is an interesting time for gardening, as it marks the transition from winter to early spring in many regions. Here are some gardening tasks you can consider for February:

Soil Preparation

Prepare garden beds by turning the soil. Add organic matter or compost to improve soil structure.

Prepare vegetable seeds

Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover.

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Protecting Plants

If there’s a late frost risk, be prepared to protect tender plants with frost cloth or other coverings.

Planting

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If the weather is mild, start planting cold-tolerant vegetables like peas, lettuce, and spinach. Plant bare-root fruit trees and roses.

Mulching

Mulch around trees and shrubs to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Indoor Seed Starting

Start seeds indoors for plants that require a longer growing season, such as tomatoes and peppers.

Fertilising

Apply a slow-release fertiliser to perennials and bulbs as they begin to emerge. 7

Divide snowdrops

Divide large clumps of snowdrops and winter aconites after flowering.

Plant rhubarb

Plant rhubarb into enriched soil.

Prune wisteria

Cut back wisteria side shoots to three buds from the base, to encourage abundant flowers in spring.

Plant dahlia tubers

Plant dahlia tubers in greenhouses to encourage shoots to develop.

Chitting first early potatoes

Keep them in a cool, light, frost-free place ready for planting towards the end of the month.

Sow some herb seeds

Sow herbs under cover such as chervil, parsley and coriander.

Tidy & mend

Scrub and hose down patios and paths to get rid of any slippery mud or moss.

Wildlife

Put up a nest box, choose somewhere in a sheltered spot away from the reach of cats Fill your bird feeders and try to remember to defrost the birdbath.