February Jobs in the Garden

Pruning Climbing Plants

Tidy up and prune winter-flowering Jasmine after all of its winter colour has gone as this wall shrub/climber can get very woody. It brings lots of well-needed colour but can look unsightly and untidy throughout the rest of the year. Cut out the dead wood and try to keep the framework close to the wall or fence. Prune laterals to 5-7 cm. Tight pruning will promote flowers for next winter.

Tie in climbers and renew old supports. I find that screw-in vine eyes are best and green plastic coated wire.

Now is your last chance to prune Wisteria (see January’s issue for details or contact a specialist).

Lawns

Late February can be warm and grass can start growing. Make sure the mower is on its highest setting when you mow.

Keep an eye out for turf diseases like Fusarium (common name ‘Snow Mould’); this can be a problem if February is warm and wet.

Early February is not too late to put on a winter feed but apply normal release, not control or slow release fertiliser.

Turf laying can be carried out all year round and all weathers apart from on frosty and frozen ground.

Grasses

An important job for February is to cut down deciduous grasses for example Stipa, Pennisetum and Miscanthus.

Plants for February

Helleborus - Hellebore - one of my favour plants that bring excellent winter and spring colour to the garden. This gentle and elegant flowering perennial comes in many colours and will grown in most fertile soils.