February Gardening To Do List

What to do in the garden in February

February at a glance

Pruning time for Clematis, Wisteria, Winter Jasmine, Hydrangea, Buddleia, Cornus, Mahonia, Evergreen shrubs, Climbing and Bush roses.
Sow early seed under glass with extra heat and light.
Plant summer flowering bulbs.
Cut back Sedum.
Sow Sweet Peas.
Chit Potatoes

February in the Garden

Gardening is seasonal, but because of the variations in our weather, and range of conditions across the UK, the rules about what to do when in the garden are not hard and fast rules. The weather moderates gardening advice. No two Springs are ever the same and the weather can make a big difference.

What to do in the garden in February depends where in the country you are gardening. If you garden in the south of England or have a garden which is sheltered, more can be done earlier, but northern gardeners, especially those with exposed plots, may need to leave tasks to late February or even early March. All gardening calendars are just a guide it depends on the weather.

During mild spells in February, shrubs, climbers and bare rooted roses can be planted. If you are looking to buy shrubs with late winter and early spring interest, follow this link for ideas.

Pruning Clematis and Wisteria in February

Prune Clematis

In February and early March, during mild spells, is the time to tackle pruning Clematis groups 2 and 3.

If it's a group 2Clematis (in short, characterised by large flowers in midsummer) it needs only a light prune. If it is a group 3 Clematis (flowers bloom from mid to late summer) it's a harder prune. The words "pruning" and "Clematis" are scary, but here is how to make it easy.

Do not routinely prune early flowering Clematis. These are any Clematis which flower between February and May, and they are varieties such as Clematis Montana, Alpina, Armandii and known as Group 1 (see types of Clematis.)

Because these types of Clematis flower early in the year, if you were to prune now, you would cut off the branches carrying the flower buds. They only need pruning if they get out of control.

You do need to prune Groups 2 & 3 Clematis. How do you know if it is a group 2 or 3 ready for pruning now?

You can check out the Sunday Gardener video about Groups 1,2 & 3 explaining the differences between the various Clematis groups and the Clematis pages.

If you don't have the label, to decide to which group your Clematis belongs is a bit of a headache, so you can only apply a rule of thumb (which the video explains,) and which is explained on the growing Clematis pages.

Group 1 flower from very early February up to around May; Group 2 tend to flower in early summer and Group 3 flower late summer.

Prune Wisteria

February is also the time to prune that other tricky climbing plant, Wisteria. Follow the links for detailed advice on how to Grow and Prune Wisteria and how to make sure your Wisteria flowers. To get Wisteria to flower it must be pruned twice a year, winter and summer. There is detailed explanation on the Wisteria page and also video on winter and summer prune. If you want your Wisteria to flower, or it has stopped flowering, get pruning.

February/March during a mild spell is also the time to prune Buddleja davidii for the best summer flowers.

Other Shrubs and Plants Suitable for Pruning In February

February/ March is the correct time to prune several plants and shrubs:-

Clematis groups 2 and 3

Wisteria

Winter Jasmine

Hydrangea

Buddleia

Climbing and bush roses

Cornus

Mahonia

Over grown shrubs which need renovating

Do not prune any shrubs which are spring-flowering or you will cut off the potential flowers. Spring flowering shrubs flower on "old wood", - more information about this. Spring flowering shrubs are always pruned after flowering, usually in the early summer. For more information and a guide to pruning plants and shrubs.

Prune Cornus

During a mild spell in Feb/March you can prune Cornus, common name Dogwood (image left) which has lovely red stems in the winter. The one illustrated is Cornus Alba 'Sibirica' fully hardy, deciduous and easy to grow in any soil. Pruning in late winter helps to produce the bright winter stems next year.

Cut right back almost to ground level and be assured it will regrow in the spring. Cornus is a great, easy to grow shrub which has lovely variegated foliage and looks good in a mixed border. It looks striking grown alongside Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' the lovely creamy green variations contrasting with the deep purple of the Cotinus.

You may want to keep the pruning offcuts, they are very useful for making plants supports.

What to sow in February

This early in the year to germinate seeds, it is essential to create a warm, benign environment for both germination and the early stages of the seedlings. Very few gardeners can afford the luxury of a heated greenhouse, which means bringing seed trays into the house, not ideal, or using a heated propagator mat and site the seed trays in a porch or unheated conservatory. Seeds will need to be placed into a sealed propagator to create a warm atmosphere which will not dry out, and once germinated, removed and kept frost free. Light levels are very low in February, so seeding is not easy and plants need to be turned regularly to keep even growth.

The benefits of seeding in February is if it goes well, the plants will mature earlier. Sowing in March and April is easier because of the extra light and warmth. Lots of information and advice at How to Sow Plant and Veg Seeds, 10 top tips for successful sowing and germination and what to do with leggy seedlings.

Video advice on sowing seeds and germination.

Suitable for seeding under glass in February are: Aubergines, Beetroot, chilies, Broad beans, lettuce and rocket and tomatoes. Flower seeds, many of the popular garden plants such as Ageratum, Antirrhinum, Calendula, Cornflower, French Marigolds, Nigella, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Scabious, Sweet Peas and Zinnia.

The hardier plants such as Broad Beans, Lettuce, Sweet peas will be easier to sow early because they will be able to withstand the cooler temperature. Equally the more tender plants, courgettes, cucumbers, ipomoea are best left to later.

Towards the end of the month and into March it is easier to germinate and grow on seeds because of the increasing light and warmth. The further north you are in terms of prevailing weather and chill factor the more you may wish to delay first sowings.

Planting bulbs for late spring and summer

We always associate spring with bulbs, daffodils, crocus, hyacinth, but there are many lovely summer bulbs, which although usually planted in the Autumn, if you missed that slot, early spring provides another opportunity. Allium, (illustrated left Allium 'Globemaster') make a fabulous display and mix so well with many popular plants and if planted in February will flower in late spring and early summer. Allium are easy to grow and once established return reliably each year.

Plant Lilies in Feb/March for a great scented display. Lilies dislike heavy, wet soil which can make them less reliable in subsequent years. If your garden conditions are not ideal with wet heavy clay conditions, it is better to plant in containers.

Anemone can be planted now. The corms (bulbs) are best soaked overnight before planting. There are lots of summer flowering bulbs in the garden centres from now onward, check the packets carefully as not all are fully hardy, those which are not frost hardy need to be planted later. The best chance of ensuring summer bulbs flower the following year is to feed them during the growing season, right up to flowering. Tomato feed is ideal.

We can plant crocosmia in the Spring to flower in late summer Crocosmia are easy to grow and return reliably each year. Some varieties can be a little invasive, which is not uncommon with some easier to grow plants. At the end of the season, when the crocosmia is dying back, I pull/tug and dig out some new growth along the edges of the patch to keep it in check.

Cut back Sedums

It's just great to get January over with, February presents as a turning a corner to-wards spring. The garden appears dormant, but there is growth at ground level with tiny buds and shoots appearing. The image left shows early growth on a Sedum reminding us what lies ahead. February is an ideal time to cut back the old top growth avoiding damage the new growth coming through. If cutting back is left too late, it's harder to cut back without damaging the new growth.

Sow Sweet Peas

February is a good time to start sweet peas which are easy to germinate, but quite time intensive to grow. Sweet peas make a showy addition to the garden, climbing up an obelisk or fence and are great as cut flowers. They require a fair amount of attention and if you want nice, long straight stems you need to know about the tendrils which must be removed to keep the stems straight. Advice on how to grow sweet peas from seed and growing tips.Video on how to plant sweet peas.

Prune Mahonia

Once Mahonia has finished flowering, it can be pruned by removing the spent flowers. If the shrub has some too long shoots or is looking unbalanced, it can be tidied up.

Mahonia have a tendency to become leggy with bare stems at the base of the plant. How to renovate a Mahonia.

Prune Rosa Rugosa

In February you can also prune Rosa Rugosa, with care, as they have very prickly stems. Take out the oldest shoots at ground level and a half of the rest for a good display of flowers and hips later in the year. Rosa Rugosa is suitable to grow in a coastal garden for more ideas of plants and shrubs which tolerate sea side condition check out plants for coastal gardens.

Prune Evergreen Shrubs

If you want to tidy up or reduce the size of evergreen shrubs, you can prune in February. In a mixed border, pruning the lower stems nearer the ground on shrubs lifts the canopy to allow more light for plants close to or under the shrub. Check each plant before pruning and be careful as pruning at the wrong time can result in no flowers.

Plants which flower on last year's growth need to be pruned later, after flowering, which is usually later spring/summer not late winter/spring; otherwise you will cut off the stems on which flower buds are forming.

Whilst it's tempting to prune as the garden comes awake and clearing the borders, each shrub is different, and bears checking out individually. Pruning at the wrong time can be the answer to why a shrub doesn't flower as expected.

Mould in the Greenhouse

Late winter is the time there can be problems in the greenhouse, as the image left, which shows a mould attack, Botrytis also known as grey mould. This frequently occurs in the winter when the days are still cold and damp, especially the damp. Even watering sparingly, which is essential in the winter, when there is no sun to dry out the air and soil after watering means that damp is a real threat to the plants. Check the greenhouse plants regularly, physically feel the soil and don't water unless it is dry, which may only be monthly, or less. On Mild winter days open up the greenhouse doors and manual vents to let as much air in as possible. If you get an attack of mould cut off all infected leaves and if it is severe move the plant out of the greenhouse to prevent the spread of infection.

February in the Veg plot

Is it too early to start sowing?

In some parts of the country, the more southerly and sheltered gardens, February is the right time to prepare the veg plot by warming up the soil ready for early plantings. This can be done either by covering with polythene, (well pegged down to be secure in the event of gales) or with cloches. If this is too much faff just wait a month or so and nature should do the warming for you.

If you are a keen gardener and in a sheltered spot, it is possible to start some veg growing but only a few and specific named varieties. Only plant during a mild spell and protect with cloches. There are some very hardy Broad beans, such as Aquadulce Claudia. Also, Garlic can be planted now in sheltered areas with light soil. Some garlic is suitable for autumn planting and some for spring so you need to check the variety and also there is soft neck and hard neck. Garlic is easy to grow and can even be grown in between other veg, and in pots. Importantly Garlic needs a light soil and lots of sun.

You can germinate under glass hardier varieties of Peas, Beetroot, the Bolthardy variety would be suitable, radishes, some lettuces can be started in the green house, such as the cut and come again varieties which includes rocket. You can also propagate (with heat,) leeks, cabbages, Brussels and chilies which need a long growing season. Remember, once germinated the seedlings will need to continue growing under glass or frost free until all risk of frost has passed. If space is a problem, it's sometimes easier to germinate later when the weather is better. Broad beans can be sown indoors into root trainers or cardboard tubes to give them a long root run.

Time to start Potatoes

February is also the time to chit potatoes ready for planting out in the spring. Place them in a cool and light area and from the "eyes" shoots will form over the next few weeks until planting out. This is said to help get the potatoes off to a good start, don't worry if there is not time to do this before planting as the jury is out on how much good chitting actually does.

High levels of blight have been a problem during the past few wet summers. It's hard to avoid, but there are varieties of potato which are blight resistant, such as the Sarpo varieties. Another possibility is to grow early cropping potatoes such as Charlotte, Pink Fir, Rocket, Anya (all sold in garden centres and on line) which may crop before the blight arrives. If you have grown potatoes in containers, it is worth scrubbing them out with disinfectant to eradicate any remnants of blight. It is best not to reuse compost which has had blighted potatoes grown in it. Also to reduce pests and disease, rotate the crop so the potatoes and all veg are not grown in the same part of the veg plot on consecutive years.

Look after Strawberries

Strawberries are a hardy perennial which means by late winter they can be looking a bit tired. This is a good time to take the old brown foliage off strawberries to encourage new growth and to let in more light. This also reduces disease and more air circulation, which helps to keep botrytis at bay later in the year.

If you want to get an early crop of Strawberries cloche them later this month/early March, but remember to water under the cloches periodically.

Chitting Potatoes

Broad bean in root trainer

Before cutting back

last updated 22.01.2021