February is a month of anticipation and preparation for the gardeners, as the signs of spring start to appear. The days are getting longer, the birds are singing, and the first flowers are blooming. There are many things that you can do in February to get your garden ready for the new season. Here are some tips and ideas for different types of gardens.
Key takeaways
| What to do | What to plant | What to harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare your soil and beds | Early vegetables like peas, carrots, and radishes | Winter vegetables like kale, cabbage, and turnips |
| Sow your seeds indoors | Summer flowers like marigolds, petunias, and zinnias | Herbs like parsley, mint, and chives |
| Prune your shrubs and climbers | Fruit bushes like blueberries, currants, and gooseberries | Citrus fruits like mandarins, limes, and kumquats |
| Feed and mulch your plants | Perennials like lupins, delphiniums, and echinaceas | Winter flowers like snowdrops, crocuses, and hellebores |
Prepare your soil and beds
Before you start planting your seeds and plants, you need to prepare your soil and beds to ensure a good growing environment. Here are some steps to follow:
- Remove any weeds, debris, or stones from your soil. You can use a hoe, a rake, or a fork to loosen and aerate the soil.
- Add some organic matter, such as compost, manure, or leaf mould, to enrich your soil and improve its structure and drainage. You can also add some fertilizer, such as blood, fish, and bone, to boost the nutrients in your soil.
- Make some raised beds or mounds to create more space and depth for your plants. You can use wooden planks, bricks, or stones to build the edges of your beds. Raised beds can also help prevent waterlogging and pests.
- Cover your soil and beds with a layer of mulch, such as straw, bark, or wood chips, to protect them from frost and weeds. Mulch can also help retain moisture and warmth in your soil.
Sow your seeds indoors
February is a good time to sow your seeds indoors, as the weather is still too cold and unpredictable for outdoor sowing. Sowing indoors can give your plants a head start and a longer growing season. Here are some tips for sowing indoors:
- Choose a sunny and warm spot for your seeds, such as a windowsill, a greenhouse, or a heated propagator. You can also use artificial lights, such as fluorescent tubes or LED lamps, to provide extra light and heat.
- Use clean and sterile containers and trays for your seeds, such as pots, modules, or cell packs. You can also reuse plastic bottles, yogurt cups, or egg cartons, as long as you make some drainage holes at the bottom.
- Fill your containers and trays with a good quality seed compost, which is fine and light and has a low nutrient content. You can also make your own seed compost by mixing peat, perlite, and vermiculite.
- Sow your seeds according to the instructions on the packet, such as the depth, the spacing, and the germination time. You can also label your containers and trays with the name and date of the seeds.
- Water your seeds gently and evenly, and cover them with a clear plastic lid or a plastic bag to create a humid and warm environment. You can also mist your seeds with a spray bottle to keep them moist.
- Check your seeds regularly and remove the cover as soon as they sprout. You can also thin out any weak or crowded seedlings to give more space and light to the healthy ones.
Prune your shrubs and climbers
February is also a good time to prune your shrubs and climbers, as they are still dormant and not actively growing. Pruning can help shape your plants, encourage new growth, and remove any dead or diseased wood. Here are some general guidelines for pruning:
- Prune your shrubs and climbers on a dry and mild day, to avoid spreading diseases or damaging the plants.
- Use sharp and clean tools, such as secateurs, loppers, or saws, to make clean cuts. You can also use a pruning knife to smooth any rough edges.
- Cut at an angle, about 1/4 inch above a bud or a branch collar. Avoid leaving stubs or cutting too close to the bud or the collar, as this can cause dieback or infection.
- Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches, as well as any that are crossing, rubbing, or competing with each other. Aim for an open and airy structure that allows light and air to reach the center of the plant.
- For shrubs, follow the specific pruning techniques for each type of shrub, such as evergreen, deciduous, flowering, or fruiting. You can find more information on this website.
- For climbers, follow the specific pruning techniques for each type of climber, such as clematis, honeysuckle, wisteria, or jasmine. You can find more information on this website.
Feed and mulch your plants
Another task that you can do in February is to feed and mulch your plants, to provide them with the nutrients and protection they need for the spring. Here are some tips for feeding and mulching your plants:
- Feed your plants with a balanced fertilizer, such as a granular, liquid, or slow-release one, to boost their growth and flowering. You can also use organic fertilizers, such as seaweed, fish emulsion, or worm castings, to enrich your soil and improve its health.
- Apply the fertilizer according to the instructions on the label, and avoid overfeeding or underfeeding your plants. You can also test your soil pH and nutrient levels with a kit or a meter, to determine the best fertilizer for your plants.
- Mulch your plants with a layer of organic material, such as compost, bark, straw, or grass clippings, to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature. You can also use inorganic mulches, such as gravel, pebbles, or plastic, to create a decorative or functional effect.
- Spread the mulch around the base of your plants, leaving a gap of about 2 inches around the stems or trunks, to prevent rotting or suffocating your plants. You can also renew or replace the mulch as it decomposes or fades.
