What to do in February

In February, the UK is still in the depths of winter, but it's an ideal time to prepare for the growing season ahead:

Things to do in February:

Feed garden birds in severe weather.
Apply organic-based fertilisers towards the end of the month.
Check that plant supports are sound and not too tight before they are hidden by growth.
Continue planting bare-root trees, shrubs, fruit trees and bushes.
Firm any newly planted trees and shrubs that have been lifted by frost.
Repot or top dress shrubs in containers.
Prune winter-flowering shrubs when the flowers have faded and any clearly unhealthy rose stems.
Remove the old stems of herbaceous perennials.
Start tender perennials into growth under cover.
Divide and replant snowdrops.
Start dahlia tubers into growth indoors.
Prepare seedbeds for vegetables seed sowing outdoors.
Prick out or pot up seedlings already growing.
Protect gooseberry bushes from bird damage.

Last Chance:

Getting Ahead:

The Weather

February is cold, with average daytime temperatures between 5°C and 8°C and night time temperatures between -2°C and 1°C. Frost is common and light snow is occasionally seen.
Rainfall is moderate, though slightly lower than in January.
Still short days, but there can be some dry, bright spells, especially towards the end of the month.

General Tasks

Plan the garden:	Start thinking about your planting schemes for the year ahead.
Prepare the soil:	If the ground isn’t too frozen or waterlogged, you can dig or lightly turn over your soil, adding compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility.
Clean & maintain tools:	Sharpen blades, oil handles and clean tools to get them ready for the spring season.
Composting:	Turn your compost heap(s) to let the air in and speed up the composting process.
Weeding:	As the temperature starts to rise the weeds will start growing so keep on top of them before they can establish.

Vegetables & Herbs

Hervesting:	You can now harvest parsnips and winter greens – sprouts, herbs, endives, sprouting broccoli and Jerusalem artichokes can be harvested.
Preparing the ground:	Seed beds can be prepared by covering to keep the rain off and warm the soil. Areas to be planted with brassicas can be limed now.
Sowing:	Sow seeds for early crops of lettuce, leeks, onions, peas and broad beans inside under glass or in a heated propagator.
Planting out:	Shallots and Jerusalem artichokes can be planted now.
Chit potatoes:	Chit early potatoes, place them with the eyes upwards in a tray in a cool dry place e.g. the shed.
Prune herbs:	Trim any dead or damaged growth from herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage.

Fruit

Plant fruit trees & bushes:	Bare-root fruit trees or bushes (like raspberries and gooseberries) can be planted now, while they are still dormant.
Prune fruit trees:	There is still time to prune apples and pears while they are dormant. Make sure to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches. On stepovers, espaliers and cordons the spurs can be thinned out.
Raspberries:	Autumn fruiting varieties can be pruned now, cutting them back to ground level.
Mulch:	Apply mulch around fruit trees and bushes using garden compost or well-rotted manure.

The Flower Garden

Prune roses:	Prune hybrid tea, floribunda and climbing roses to remove dead or diseased wood and shape them for new growth.
Borders:	Borders can be cleared of old growth and weeded and dug over before new growth starts to appear which may be damaged otherwise.
Divide and plant perennials:	If the ground is not frozen, it’s a good time to divide and replant perennials that may have outgrown their space.
Sowing:	Hardy annuals can be sown early under glass this month to get a head start on those sown outside next month.
Bulbs:	Deadhead any spent blooms from early spring bulbs like crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils to ensure they are ready to bloom again next year. Snowdrops and aconites should be divided now whilst still ‘in the green’.

The Greenhouse

Sowing indoors:	Now is a good time to start seeds like tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines in a warm spot indoors. Make sure emerging seedlings get plenty of light to stop them getting ‘leggy’ and prick them out as soon as they can be handled.
Ventilation:	On sunny days, open vents to allow air circulation and reduce humidity, helping to prevent mould.
Dahlias:	Pot up dahlia tubers.
Tender perennials:	Pelargoniums, fuchsias and salvias that have been overwintered can have the main stems cut back so that they don’t get too tall.

Containers

Shelter Containers:	Protect plants in containers by moving them to more sheltered locations, especially if severe frost is predicted.
Check container plants:	Ensure that plants in containers have sufficient moisture (but not too much, as frozen roots can lead to rot) and check for signs of frost damage.

Trees & Shrubs

Planting:	If the ground is not frozen, plant bare-root trees and shrubs, as it’s the best time for establishing strong root systems.
Prune deciduous shrubs:	Now is the time to prune deciduous shrubs, like buddleja, cornus and hydrangeas, to shape them and remove any dead or damaged wood.
Climbers:	Late flowering clematis (group 3) can be pruned, cut back to 9” to 18”. Winter flowing jasmine can be cut back after flowering.

Hedges

Pruning:	This is the last chance to cut back overgrown shrubs and hedges before birds start nesting.
Trim evergreen hedges:	Lightly trim any evergreen hedges to maintain their shape and encourage strong growth.
Check for gaps:	If there are any gaps in hedges, this is a good time to plant new hedging plants, as they will establish well in the cool weather.

The Lawn

Repair damage:	If the lawn has suffered from winter wear, this is a good time to scarify or over-seed, provided the ground isn’t frozen. If you are planning on sowing a new lawn or laying turf the ground can be prepared.
Edge the lawn:	If the ground isn’t too soggy, edge your lawn with a spade to create a tidy border and define the shape.
Weeding:	Rather than using weed killers now is a good time to remove weeds from the law by digging them out.
Mowing:	If the ground isn’t frozen then start mowing the lawn but on a high setting.

Wildlife and the Pond

Check pond plants:	Remove any dead or damaged growth from pond plants to encourage fresh growth in the spring.
Protect fish:	If you have fish, ensure that the pond has a hole in the ice so they can access oxygen. You can use a pond heater or float a tennis ball to help keep an area of the water ice-free.
Clear debris:	Remove fallen leaves or debris from the pond’s surface to prevent it from decomposing and affecting water quality.