Gardening jobs to tackle in February
February might be feeling soggy under foot, but it’s an exciting month in the gardening calendar if you’re able to get outside and do a few jobs, between the wind and rain that is.
It’s usually a month full of gardening hope as the days slowly begin to lengthen and early bulbs start peeping through the soil.
Here are a few key jobs to focus on this week to get your gardening off to a strong start this year.
- Prepare your soil
If the ground isn’t waterlogged, or frozen, it’s a great time to begin improving your soil. Clear away dead plant material and work in plenty of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. This gives soil time to settle before spring planting.
- Prune shrubs & trees
This month is ideal for pruning many deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant. Trim wisteria by cutting back side shoots and prune apple and pear trees to maintain shape and encourage better fruiting. Avoid pruning stone fruit like cherries and plums until summer.
- Start early seeds indoors
February is perfect for sowing early crops under cover. Chillies, peppers, tomatoes and aubergines benefit from a long growing season, so starting them now on a sunny windowsill or in a heated propagator works wonders. Sweet peas also appreciate an early start.
- Prepare vegetable beds
Plan your veg patch for the coming year. Cover beds with black plastic or fleece to warm the soil and suppress weeds. If conditions allow, you can sow broad beans, onions and early carrots outdoors in sheltered spots.
- Protect plants from frost
Keep fleece handy for sudden cold snaps. Check pots for waterlogging and raise containers onto feet to improve drainage.
- Give wildlife a helping hand
Clean bird feeders, top up water sources and leave out food to support birds during the final stretch of winter. It may be some days are a bit warmer, but we may still get a few chillier ones too. There’s a lot of variation with the current weather conditions we’re experiencing here in the UK.