February is an ever changing month. Nature doesn’t quite seem to know what it’s doing when it comes to the weather during this month, however you can sense that the garden is full of promise. Snow can come as it has this year and give the garden a look that is beyond our expectations. Buried deep below things are still on the move and progressing, and with the thaw comes the anticipation of what has been happening out of our vision. Crocuses and Snowdrops break forth and give us hope and cause us to marvel at their invincibilty.

Flowerbeds

Continue to work on clearing unwanted foliage from flowerbeds when the weather allows being careful not to damage new developing shoots incorporating organic matter where necessary.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Ornamental grasses

Most ornamental grasses can now be cut back as soon as you see the new shoots starting to appear. By doing this now you will prevent damage to the new growth starting to come through.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Time for hedging

Most Garden Centres will have received stocks of bare-root hedging ready for planting now. You can also purchase these by mail order, which can sometimes be cheaper, if you don’t wish to select the plants yourself. If your intending to buy them from a Garden Centre do so as soon as they come in whilst the roots are still fresh. Some Garden Centres will pot them up into pots of 3’s or 5’s and charge more than bare-root and so you can save yourself some money by buying early. Don’t be tempted to buy the tallest specimens, as you will need to prune them to encourage them to bush up. Choose plants that have several branches low down and prune back any leggy growth. The area to be planted should be cleared of weeds and plenty of well-rotted manure or compost added to the planting hole. An application of a slow release fertiliser should be added to give them a good start for the year.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Baby bedding

If you wish to buy summer bedding as seedlings to grow on yourself, you should get your orders in soon as there are often many good deals around by mail order and stock goes quickly. If your not in possession of seed and mail order catalogues, you will find them enclosed in most gardening magazines. Garden Centres will also offer ‘baby bedding’ for growing on in a heated greenhouse or conservatory. Ensure you buy good stock, by checking that they have not been allowed to dry out or become leggy.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Bulbs for the Summer

Summer flowering bulbs should now also be widely available by mail order and from Garden Centres. Hardy bulbs such as Lilies can be planted outside immediately, whereas tender plants such as Cannas and Dahlias will need to be started off in a heated greenhouse if you want to bring them on early. Ensure you store unplanted bulbs in a cool, dry and airy place until you are ready to plant them otherwise they will start to shoot. Again you are best to buy early as stock is fresh and less likely to have dried out and you should also find plenty of choice.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Nesting box time

It is a good time to start putting up nesting boxes for birds to give them plenty of time to become familiar with them. There are many different types available for specific birds as is the case for bird food. Ensure you are providing the right food for the birds you have or wish to attract and the appropriate type of feeder. Most suppliers should have charts to advise you on this or you could look online with the RSPB for further advice.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Rose care

Roses can now be pruned to remove weak and crossing stems and to improve their overall shape and remove damaged or diseased wood. Most branches should be cut back by about two-thirds to just above a healthy outwards pointing bud, doing this will encourage more flowering stems. They will also benefit from a top dressing of well-rotted manure. Ensure all fallen leaves have been removed first to help prevent the return of black spot.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Lawn care in February

Lawns can be aerated with either a border fork or specifically designed tool, filling the holes afterwards with a dressing of sand to improve the drainage. This will encourage better root development and help improve the general quality of the lawn later in the season.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Clean out the greenhouse

This is a good month for getting the greenhouse cleaned up and ready for the new season. Remove unnecessary items and sweep out the greenhouse removing any debris from the glazing bars and corners. Wash the greenhouse down internally using either a specific greenhouse detergent or general garden disinfectant (available from Garden Centres). Clean out the gutters and wash the outside down and if possible clean out any water butts to remove debris and algae.

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article

Plants of interest in Garden Centres during February

• Anemone blanda (FLOWERS)
• Ranunculus (FLOWERS)
• Hellebores (FLOWERS)
• Hepatica (FLOWERS)
• Corylus (CATKINS/STRUCTURE)
• Garrya (CATKINS/STRUCTURE)
• Chaenomeles (FLOWERS)
• Winter flowering Pansies (FLOWERS)
• Polyanthus (FLOWERS)
• Iris reticulata/unguicularis (FLOWERS)
• Galanthus (Snowdrop) (FLOWERS)
• Hyacinth (FLOWERS)
• Narcissus (daffodil) (FLOWERS)
• Crocus (smaller varieties) (FLOWERS)
• Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) (FLOWERS)
• Eranthis (Winter Aconite) (FLOWERS)
• Cyclamen (FLOWERS)
• Cornus (DogWood) (FLOWERS/STRUCTURE)
• Salix (Willow) (CATKINS/STRUCTURE)
• Jasminum nudiflorum (FLOWERS)
• Chimonanthus (FLOWERS)
• Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) (FLOWERS)
• Daphne (FLOWERS)
• Viburnum (FLOWERS)
• Ruscus aculeatus (BERRIES)
• Ilex (Holly) (BERRIES/FOLIAGE)

Written by Day Lily on 2006/02/04 | Permalink to this article