None of us can predict the weather far in advance, so let’s take a look at we should be doing in our February garden.
The Lawn in February
Here in the West Country there is no doubt that we have had the best of what has been a hard winter with lawns in the far North really going through it.
In contrast, I spent time looking at my lawn today and in truth it really is ready for its first cut this year, when the temperature rises a little.
First check then – have you, or your local Mountfield dealer serviced your mower and sharpened the blades?
No?
Then time to move swiftly to get that done! Find your nearest Mountfield dealer here.
So, all done and you are ready!
The key instruction is not to try and create a lovely summer lawn straight away!
Your first few cuts should be made with the cutters set as high as possible. You don’t want to damage the developing grass ‘sward’
As the spring weather improves, gradually lower the mower blades to their summer height.
Otherwise, all you need to do is some ‘housekeeping’, sweeping off fallen leaves and other debris together with any ‘worm-castes’.
The Flower Garden
The greenhouse assumes importance in February.
Have you given it a good scrub down, inside and out?
If not, that’s your next job!
Time then for some seed sowing! Geraniums, begonias, antirrhinums for borders and containers and delphiniums for the perennial borders.
Already sown your sweet peas? No?
Well anytime now is good. If you like the large flowered yet fragrant types then look for ‘Spencer’ types.
However, if you want the most fragrant, smaller flowered peas, look for ‘Grandiflora mix.’
Did you store dahlia tubers and begonia corms through the winter in the greenhouse or garage?
Then now is the time to pot them up in the greenhouse before planting out in the spring.
Outside, if you have pansy plants in borders or containers, make sure you ‘dead-head’ fading flowers – it will prolong blooming and life of the plants.
In warm weather, divide and separate overgrown flowering perennials.
Snowdrops too can be divided as the flowers fade.
The Shrub Border
There may well be still plenty of pruning to be done in the garden shrubbery. Rhodendrons can take some time to prune, so start early!
Hopefully mahonia and jasmine have flowered well, so again get them pruned, but make sure you have sharpened the cutters for a clean cut.
It’s time to apply slow release fertiliser to your summer flowering plants such as shrubs and roses.
The Vegetable Garden
The greenhouse is busy with flowers, but we must not forget that it’s sowing time for vegetables too! Tomatoes, peppers and chillies can all be sown at this time for early summer crops.
It’s time to start ‘chitting’ your early potatoes in the greenhouse or on a sunny window sill indoors. This starts the shoots into growth, which with careful planting, means earlier and heavier crops.
Like vegetables but no room for a veg patch?
Try growing in ‘raised’ beds, pre-formed wooden, plastic or metal beds to grow vegetables in a back yard or down a path if space is limited.
Growing garlic this year?
Strip the individual cloves from the clump and plant them individually.
Fancy some sweet, tasty, broad beans early this year?
Start them in trays in the greenhouse, to give them a good start and then plant them out as young plants. Use a variety such as Aquadulce Claudia which grows better in poor winter light.
Peas too can be sown outside under cloches.
Perennial vegetables such as rhubarb and asparagus will benefit from mulching with farm yard manure.
Clear dead or yellowing leaves off brassicas such as cabbages and brussels sprouts.
Apply compost or farm yard manure to as yet unused areas and lime if your soil is on the acid side.
The Fruit Patch
There’s still plenty of time for pruning top fruit before the trees break into leaf. Keep the middle of the tree open to help air movement and remove any dead or diseased wood.
Pruning too, of cane fruit, such as gooseberries, currants and autumn fruiting raspberries can still take place.
Planting too, of bare root apples and pears can continue, but only if the soil is frost-free.
Strawberries – cover several rows with fleece or cloches to advance cropping.
Split rhubarb plants if they have become large and overcrowded. Alternatively replace with a new crown if the others are diseased.
Do you have a protected wall you are thinking is suitable for peach, apricots or nectarines?
Now’s a good time to plant!
Gardening Hints
So, we have looked at what needs doing in all the product areas in the garden, lets talk about many of the little jobs that still need doing!
The compost heap – these have been lying dormant all winter and have probably become compacted by the rain. It’s a good idea therefore to turn them with a fork or spade to break down the contents into crumbly, nutritious compost to spread around the garden.
Don't Forget The Wildlife In Your Garden
Do you have bird boxes in the garden?
If not, you may want to fix a few around on suitable trees etc.
You could also cut a small hole in the base of the fence to help with ‘hedgehog runs.’
As the saying goes ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ so keep your garden neat and tidy. It will look good, and also reduce pest levels.
Finally, just a reminder that seed/plant suppliers get very busy at this time of year, so get your order in now!
HAPPY GARDENING!
