February
In The Flower Garden This February
Cut back shrubs, such as cornus and salix cultivars (grown for their colourful winter stems), down to their bases.
Lift and divide snowdrops still ‘in the green’, if you want to move them or create more plants.
Prune summer-flowering clematis towards the end of the month, before active growth begins.
Prune wisteria now, cutting back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds.
Cut back old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins. Clip them to within a few centimentres of the ground.
Remove faded flowers from winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage a flush of new flowers when the weather warms up.
Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent plants becoming leggy.
Look our for hellebore leaf spot (round brown spots on the leaves) and remove any leaves that are affected.
Top Tip:
Move any deciduous trees or shrubs that need repositioning now, provided the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
This Month's Key Tips
- Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow vegetables under cover.
- Net fruit and vegetable crops to keep birds away.
- Prune winter-flowering shrubs if they have finished flowering.
- Prune wisteria and hardy evergreen hedges.
- Cut back deciduous grasses left uncut over winter.
