February Top Tips

SHRUB BORDER
 - Winter-flowering shrubs should be pruned as soon as they have finished flowering. 

 - The winter jasmine, Jasminum Nudiflorum, is one that benefits particularly to prevent if from becoming very straggly and overgrown. 

 - Complete the pruning of all types of roses this month before young shoots come into growth once the weather warms up.

 - Towards the end of the month complete the pruning of large shrubs such as Buddleia and Lavatera, prune them back to encourage young growth from the base of the plant. 

 - Willows can be coppiced to the ground if grown in bush form, Cornus can be pruned now as the intense colour of the stems during winter begin to fade now. 

 - If roses have suffered black spot on previous years spray the surface of the bed with copper fungicide to kill any resting spores.

 - All trees, shrubs and roses will benefit from a top dressing of Country Natural Manure or well rotted farmyard manure at this time of year.

LAWNS
 - Already the grass will be showing signs of new growth and it will not be long before the mowing season will be here again. 

 - Get your Lawn Mowers serviced now if a services is required. 

 - Rake or sweep the lawn to sweep up any leaves and scatter worn casts. 

 - Do not attempt to mow your lawn before March arrives.

HERBACEOUS BORDER
 - Early Spring flowers such as Aconites, Snowdrops and Cyclamen Coun are now begining to flower and add early colour to the garden, enjoy them while it lasts as they only make a short visit each year and are a sign that the garden is coming to life once again.

 - Dahlia tubers in store should be examined periodically, if there is the slightest sign of mould or decay on the stems or tubers, they should be dusted with flowers of sulphur.  Do make sure they are well protected against frost.  Complete any lifting and dividing of herbaceous plant this month before they begin to come into growth. 

 - Plants such as Crocosmia "Montbretias" are often neglected and left to form large clumps that do not give a very good display of flowers that will benefit from being divided. 

 - All herbaceous plants will benefit from a top dressing of well rotted manure or a top dressing of bonemeal.  Some half hardy annuals can be sown under cloches now such as Larkspur, clarkia, cornflower, godetia, calendula, helchrysum and sweetpeas, these will all produce cut flowers later in the year. 

 - Lily bulbs are now being offered for sale and can be planted when conditions are suitable.  When planting lilies place some sharp sand in the base of the hole before planting as this will ensure good drainage.

VEGETABLE GARDEN
 - In the month of February soil conditions should soon start to improve and early sowings of some vegetable seeds can be made under cloches.  These will include onions, carrots, peas, lettuce and radishes, but if the weather becomes severe watch our for slug damage on the young seedlings.

 - When the soil has dried after the frost, look over spring cabbage and firm if they have become lossened by the frost.  It is a good time to feed spring cabbage as the days lengthen with a quick acting nitrogenous fertilizer such as nitrate of soda; this will serve as a good tonic for spring cabbage towards the end of the month.

FRUIT GARDEN
 - Fruit trees gown in grass often making little growth because they are starved of nitrogen.  This can be remedied by feeding now with sulphate of ammonia or nitro chalk at 35 grams per square metre.  As the buds of soft fruit begin to swell, they will become very attractive to bullfinchs and other birds. 

 - Protect with netting or by straining black thread from branch to branch, better still invest in a permanent fruit cage.  Autumn fruiting raspberries should be pruned this month. 

 - If the weather is mild apricots, peaches and nectarines trained against walls may show signs of the first flowers opening, these will need protection against night time frosts, protect with horticultural fleece but be careful not to damage the flowers.

THE GREENHOUSE
 - Now is the time to bring the stools of outdoor chrysanthemums into the light and warmth so that they will make sturdy cuttings. 

 - Dahlias can also be given the same treatment if you want to take dahlia cuttings later on.  In a heated greenhouse seed sowing can begin in earnest of many half hardy annuals these will incude lobelia, antirrhinums and petunia.   - Tomato seed can also be sown now. 

 - Cuttings can be take from geraniums and fuchsias now if you have been over wintering plants. 

 - A good selection of young seedlings, rooted geraniums, fuchsias and hanging basket plants are now available in the Garden Centre along with many other spring bulbs and corns which can be grown in the greenhouse or on the kitchen window if you do not have a greenhouse.

HOUSEPLANTS
 - Keep them away from cold draughts
 - Keep away from radiators & drying heat
 - Mist foliage to create humidity
 - Give flowering plants natural light during the day, place by a window
 - Move tender plants away from the window ledge on cold nights
 - Keep Amarylis warm to encourage them to flower
 - Water Cacti only when dry

THE GARDEN POND
 - Keep the pond heater on if February proves to be a cold month
 - Keep the pond net on to stop leaves and Herons getting to the pond
 - Feed with Wheatgerm Fish Food if fish are active, but do not feed if they are at the bottom of the pond
 - Keep filters running, but if weather is servere disconnect and drain down
 - Keep using Barley Pads to control blanket weed
 - Keep a thermometer in the pond to check the temperature

A selection of trees and shrubs in flower during February:-
Acacia dealbata
Prunus Autumnalis and Prunus Autumnalis Rosea
Prunus Incisa
Cornus Mas
Camellia sasanqua
Daphne Mezerum
Daphne Odora
Erica Carnea
Erica Darleyensis
Garrya Elliptica
Hamamellis
Jasmine Nudiflorum
Lonicera Fragrantissima
Lonicera Purpusii
Lonicera Setifera
Lonicera Standishii
Mahonia Japonica
Pachysandra Terminalis
Sarcococca
Ulex Europasus
Viburnum Bodnantensis
Viburnum Farreri
Viburnum Tinus

Some early flowering forms of Rhodendrons such as "Praecox" can be found in flower in very sheltered sites during the month.

FEBRUARY TOP TIP
The old saying "February fill dyke being black or bit it white" never dig in ice or snow, if you intend to purchase new trees and shrubs now is a good time.  If snow and frosty conditions persist leave the plants in their pots in a sheltered position in the garden until the weather improves.  Do not forget to water any evergreen shrubs you have in containers, during frosty weather evergreens dry out very quickly at this time of year.  Frosts now have a large selection of seed potatoes, summer flowering bulbs, corns, a large selection of young seedling plants available now.