As winter lingers, February in the UK presents gardeners with a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities. Though the cold weather persists, there is still plenty to do in the garden to prepare for the coming spring. The key to gardening in February is to take advantage of the quieter period to plan, tidy, and set the stage for a more vibrant garden in the warmer months.

In this article, we will explore practical gardening tips for February, key tasks to tackle, and essential items to help you succeed as the season shifts.

Prune Trees and Shrubs

February is an ideal time to prune many deciduous trees and shrubs (those that lose their leaves in winter) while they are still dormant. This not only keeps your plants healthy but also encourages strong, new growth in spring.

Practical Tips:

– Fruit trees: Prune apple, pear, and plum trees to shape them and remove any dead or diseased wood. Use clean, sharp secateurs to make precise cuts.

– Shrubs: Prune roses, clematis, and hydrangeas by cutting back old or damaged stems, leaving strong new shoots that will bloom in summer.

Prepare for Spring Planting

While the ground might still be cold and wet, it’s a great time to start planning for spring planting.

Practical Tips:

– Soil preparation: Work in compost or organic matter to improve soil structure and increase fertility. If the soil is too wet, avoid walking on it to prevent compaction.

– Planting early vegetables: Start seeds indoors or in a heated greenhouse for crops such as broad beans, onions, and peas. These can then be transplanted outdoors in March or April.

Clean and Maintain Tools

Winter is the perfect time to clean, sharpen, and maintain your gardening tools, ensuring they’re in top shape when the busier months arrive.

Practical Tips:

– Clean tools: Use wire brushes and soapy water to scrub dirt and sap off tools. For metal tools, wipe them down with an oily rag to prevent rust

– Sharpen blades: Use a sharpening stone or file to maintain the edges of spades, shears, and secateurs, making pruning and digging easier.

– Check hoses and irrigation systems: Ensure outdoor hoses are properly drained and stored to avoid damage from freezing temperatures.

Protect Plants from Frost

February is still a chilly month in the UK, and frost can easily damage tender plants.

Practical Tips:

– Fleece covers: Use horticultural fleece or garden fabric to cover vulnerable plants like winter pansies or early spring crops to trap heat and prevent frost damage.

– Mulch: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of plants to insulate the soil and prevent freeze-thaw cycles that can damage roots. Bark, straw, or compost work well.

Start Seed Sowing

Though February isn’t peak growing season, it’s a good time to start sowing certain seeds indoors or in a heated propagator.

Practical Tips:

– Popular seeds to sow: Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, and early flowers like sweet peas, primroses, and geraniums can be started indoors. Outdoors, sow broad beans, carrots, and leeks, covering them with fleece after sowing.

– Soil temperature: Most seeds germinate when soil temperatures reach at least 7°C (45°F). Using a soil thermometer or starting seeds in a cold frame can be helpful.

Things to Buy in February

Seeds

Start your collection of seeds for the growing season. Popular varieties include:

– Vegetables: Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, leeks, onions, and spinach.
– Flowers: Sweet peas, primroses, petunias, pansies, and calendulas.
– Herbs: Basil, parsley, and coriander can be started indoors now.

Compost

Compost is essential for improving soil quality. Consider buying multi-purpose compost or specialised options such as seed compost or orchid compost to give your plants the best start.

Garden Tools

February is a good time to refresh your tool collection. Consider investing in:

– Hand trowel: Perfect for planting small flowers and vegetables.
– Garden shears: Sharp, well-maintained shears are essential for pruning.
– Pruning saw: Great for making clean cuts on larger trees or shrubs.
– Weeding tools: A weeder or hoe helps control early-season weeds.

Frost Protection Materials

Invest in frost protection fabrics, cloches, and other covers to safeguard delicate plants like seedlings, tender flowers, and vegetables from unexpected frosts.

Other February Gardening Tips

– Feed the birds: Set up feeders with seeds and fat balls, especially during periods of heavy frost or snow.

– Check for pests: Look for signs of aphids, slugs, or other pests, and take action early.

– Tidy up your garden: Remove fallen leaves, dead plants, and weeds to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.

– Feed soft fruit: Apply a top dressing of sulphate of potash to currants and berries.

– Treat your shed and fences: Now is a great time to apply wood preserver.

– Use cloches: Warm the soil for early seed sowing.

– Aerate your lawn: Spike the ground with an aerator or a garden fork.

– Plant up containers: Add colour with stunning primroses from our garden centre.

– Plant begonia corms: Start them in pots for a head start on summer blooms.

– Spray fruit trees: Use a plant oil-based winter wash to kill overwintering aphid eggs.

With these tasks and tips, your garden will be well-prepared for the arrival of spring!

January in the UK is typically one of the coldest months of the year, with shorter daylight hours, frost, and sometimes snow. For gardeners, this can seem like a quiet period where little can be done. However, with the right approach, January is an ideal time to prepare your garden for the year ahead, keep things in check, and even get started on some indoor projects. From maintaining your garden tools to planning for spring, there’s plenty to do during this chilly month.

Here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your garden in January.

Prepare for Cold Weather

Winter weather in the UK can be unpredictable, with frosts, snow, and icy winds. One of the most important tasks in January is to protect plants from the cold. If you haven’t already, now is the time to get your garden “winter ready.”

Practical Tips:

– Cover tender plants (tender is the opposite of hardy). Use horticultural fleece (available from our garden centre), cloches, or even old bed sheets to cover any plants that are vulnerable to frost.

– Mulch. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of shrubs, plants, and trees. This will help insulate the soil, keeping roots warmer and reducing the risk of frost damage. You can use any bark product as a mulch; we have plenty of options in stock.

– Protect pots. Pots are particularly susceptible to freezing, which can damage roots. Move pots to a sheltered area or wrap them with bubble wrap or fleece. If you can, bring them into a garage or shed. Don’t forget to raise your pots off the ground too using pot feet.

Maintain Garden Tools

Now is a great time to tend to your garden tools, ensuring that they are ready for the busy months ahead. Taking care of your gardening equipment will make your tasks easier and more efficient when spring arrives.

Practical Tips:

– Clean and sharpen tools. After a long season of use, garden tools such as spades, shears, and hoes will need a good clean. Scrub off soil, sap, and rust using wire brushes, and then carefully sharpen the edges with a sharpening stone or file. Oiling metal parts will help protect them from rust.

– Check the shed. Take stock of your garden shed and ensure that everything is in good condition for the coming months. Check for any dampness or leaks and tidy up to make it easier to find tools in the spring.

Plan for the Growing Season

January is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and plan your garden for the coming year. It’s easy to get carried away when the weather is warmer, but January offers a quieter, calmer space to really think about your garden’s design and what you want to grow.

Practical Tips:

– Sketch your garden design. Consider changes you’d like to make. Do you want to add more flowers, edibles, or trees? How can you improve the layout or add colour?

– Plan your planting. January is an ideal time to start seed sowing and buying your summer-flowering bulbs for the upcoming season.

– Crop rotation for veg gardens. If you have a vegetable garden, it’s important to consider crop rotation to prevent soil depletion and reduce pests. Planning your rotation now will save time in the spring. Don’t forget to reflect on last year—what worked well and what didn’t?

Look After Indoor Plants

If you grow houseplants or have winter-flowering plants like cyclamen, poinsettias, or indoor bulbs, January is the perfect time to give them some attention.

Practical Tips:

– Water sparingly. With shorter daylight and colder conditions, most houseplants need less water during the winter months. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure that pots have good drainage, and let the top of the soil dry before rewatering.

– Maintain humidity levels. Winter heating can dry out the air in homes, which isn’t ideal for many houseplants. To combat this, you can increase humidity by placing plants on trays of pebbles filled with water, using a humidifier, or grouping plants together.

– Check for pests. Take time to inspect indoor plants for pests like aphids, scale insects, or mealybugs. If you spot any, treat the plant with insecticidal treatment or wipe the leaves down with a damp, soapy cloth.

Tidy Up the Garden

While it may seem like little is growing in January, there are still tasks you can tackle to keep your garden tidy and set up for success later in the year.

Practical Tips:

– Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Many deciduous trees and shrubs are dormant during the winter, making it a good time to prune them. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches and shape them as needed. Always ensure you use clean, sharp tools to make precise cuts

– Clear leaves and debris. Fallen leaves and plant debris can smother grass and plants, as well as create a hiding spot for pests. Collect any fallen leaves, and either compost them or use them as mulch on borders. Clear any branches, twigs, or other debris to prevent fungal growth

Feed Birds and Wildlife

Wildlife can struggle in the winter months due to the cold, so creating a welcoming environment for garden birds and other animals can be very rewarding.

Practical Tips:

– Set up bird feeders. Offer a variety of foods like peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. These will provide birds with the essential energy they need to survive the cold temperatures. Consider hanging a mixture of feeders at different heights to attract various bird species.

– Leave out water. Birds and other animals may struggle to find water during freezing conditions, so ensure you have a birdbath or shallow container filled with fresh water. Break the ice daily if necessary.

– Provide shelter. If you have a spare shed, log pile, or other secluded spots, leave them undisturbed. Hedgehogs, birds, and small mammals will benefit from sheltered spaces where they can seek refuge from the cold. You may also want to add a few bird boxes to trees in your garden.

Start Seeds Indoors

For the eager gardener, January can be the start of the planting season, especially if you want to get a head start on the spring growing season. Many vegetables and flowers can be sown indoors now.

Practical Tips:

– Start early vegetables. Crops like tomatoes, chillies, and peppers can be started indoors in seed trays. If you have a heated propagator or a warm, sunny windowsill, this will help your seeds germinate.

– Indoors flowers. Start sowing early flowers like marigolds, geraniums, sweet peas, or lobelia. Growing them indoors gives them a head start and will ensure they bloom earlier in the season.

Check Your Lawn

Your lawn might not look its best in January, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be neglected.

Practical Tips:

– Avoid walking on the lawn. If there’s frost, snow, or heavy rain, avoid walking on the grass as this can damage the turf. Frozen grass is brittle, and walking on it can cause it to break.

– Keep it clear. Remove any debris, like fallen branches, to prevent them from smothering the grass. If you see areas where moss is growing, you can treat them with moss killer or rake them out.

Keep an Eye on Winter Pests

Pests are less active during the winter, but that doesn’t mean they disappear completely. January is a good time to check for any signs of infestation in your garden.

Practical Tips:

– Check for aphids and slugs. Though fewer in winter, pests like aphids, slugs, and snails can still be found in sheltered spots. Inspect plants, especially those under covers or in greenhouses, for signs of pests.

– Inspect trees and shrubs. Look for signs of damage, such as bark damage or unusual growth, which could indicate the presence of pests or diseases.

Conclusion

January might be cold and quiet in the garden, but it’s a month brimming with opportunity. From protecting your plants and wildlife to planning your garden’s design and even starting seeds indoors, the steps you take now will set the stage for a successful year ahead. By tackling these tasks during the winter lull, you’ll ensure your garden is healthy, prepared, and ready to bloom beautifully when spring arrives. Embrace the slower pace of January to lay the groundwork for a productive and rewarding gardening season!

As December arrives, many gardeners might think their work is done for the year, but in reality, the garden still requires attention. While the landscape is transitioning into winter dormancy, there are several essential tasks to carry out that will ensure your garden remains healthy through the cold months and is ready to thrive when spring comes. Here’s a guide to gardening in December, complete with practical tips to keep your outdoor space in shape during the winter chill.

Protecting Tender Plants from Frost

December can bring some of the coldest weather of the year in the UK, and frost can be particularly damaging to tender plants. If you have plants that are not frost-hardy – such as dahlias, fuchsias, or tender perennials – you’ll want to take steps to protect them from freezing temperatures.

Practical Tips:

– Cover plants with frost fleece or horticultural fabric to provide a layer of insulation. This can be draped directly over plants or used to cover plant pots.

– If you have pots of tender plants, bring them indoors or into a sheltered location like a shed, garage, or greenhouse. If moving them isn’t an option, group pots together in a sheltered corner, wrapping the pots in bubble wrap to insulate the roots.

– For more delicate plants, consider using cloches, or build temporary covers with clear plastic to trap heat during the day, but be sure to ventilate the plants during the day to avoid condensation build-up.

Tidy Up Fallen Leaves

Leaves may have finished falling by December, but they still need to be dealt with. While leaving fallen leaves can provide a natural mulch for the soil and a shelter for wildlife, a heavy layer of wet, matted leaves can smother grass and other plants, leading to rot

Practical Tips:

– Rake up fallen leaves regularly, especially if they’re in areas where you want to protect the grass or flowers. You can compost them or shred them to create leaf mould, which is a valuable soil conditioner.

– If you’re unsure about what to do with leaves, use them as mulch around shrubs or trees, where they will gradually break down and provide nutrients for the soil.

– Alternatively, leave some piles in quiet corners of your garden to offer shelter for insects and other wildlife, such as hedgehogs, who will hibernate in the layers of leaves.

Winter Lawn Care

While your lawn is likely dormant in December, it still benefits from a bit of winter care. Cold, wet weather combined with foot traffic can damage your grass, so it’s important to treat your lawn with care.

Practical Tips:

– Avoid walking on your lawn when it’s frozen or waterlogged. Heavy foot traffic can damage the grass and compact the soil, making it harder for the grass to grow in spring.

– If your lawn is looking a little sparse or worn out, consider applying a winter lawn fertiliser with a high potassium content to help the grass survive winter and encourage stronger growth in the spring.

– Give your lawn a final mow before the frosts arrive. Set the mower blade to the highest setting, as cutting too short can expose the grass to frost damage.

Prune Dormant Trees and Shrubs

December is an excellent time to prune many deciduous trees and shrubs, particularly those that have already shed their leaves and are in a dormant state. Pruning now will help your plants conserve energy during winter and encourage healthy growth when the weather warms up.

Practical Tips:

– Focus on removing dead, diseased, or damaged wood to prevent the spread of disease. Cut back any crossing or inward-growing branches to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration.

– For fruit trees, such as apple and pear, prune to shape the tree and remove any branches that may rub against one another, which can cause injury.

– Avoid heavy pruning of spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, lilac, and magnolia, as this could reduce the display of flowers next season.

Clean and Store Garden Tools

Winter is the perfect time to take care of your gardening tools, so they’re ready for action when the growing season begins again. Cleaning and sharpening tools now can extend their life and make them much easier to use in the spring.

Practical Tips:

– Clean your tools by removing soil, rust, and plant material. Use a wire brush to scrub off any stubborn dirt, then soak metal parts in a solution of warm water and vinegar to remove rust.

– Sharpen any cutting tools, such as secateurs, shears, and spades. You can use a sharpening stone or file for a fine edge, which will make your tools more efficient and safer to use.

– Once cleaned and sharpened, store your tools in a dry, frost-free shed or garage. You can also rub the metal parts with vegetable oil or petroleum jelly to prevent rusting over the winter.

Feed Birds and Wildlife

As natural food sources become scarce in winter, your garden can be a vital lifeline for wildlife, particularly birds. Helping them through the cold months ensures that they remain healthy and active, and can return to nesting in the spring.

Practical Tips:

– Put out high-energy foods such as sunflower seeds, suet cakes and fat balls. These foods are packed with calories that help birds stay warm and sustain their energy during cold snaps.

– Consider planting evergreen shrubs and trees, such as holly or ivy, which provide shelter and food in the form of berries through the winter months.

– Also, ensure that water is available for wildlife. In freezing temperatures, birdbaths can become frozen over, so check them regularly, and if they’re frozen, replace the water with fresh, non-frozen water.

Plan for Spring

December is a great time to plan for the next growing season. Take a moment to think about any changes you want to make to your garden, whether it’s new plantings, different garden layouts, or adding new structures like raised beds or a greenhouse. Maybe put them on your Christmas wish list?

Practical Tips:

– If you’re planning to add new plants or redesign parts of your garden, make sketches and jot down ideas to ensure you’re ready when the planting season begins in early spring.

– If you’re feeling inspired, start sowing some hardy seeds indoors—such as sweet peas or hardy annuals—so they’ll be ready to go outside in the spring.

Conclusion

While December might seem like a quiet month in the garden, there are many important tasks that will help prepare your space for the coming months. Whether it’s protecting tender plants, providing food and shelter for wildlife, or planning ahead for spring, the steps you take now will ensure that your garden remains healthy and thriving throughout the winter and ready for a fresh start in the new year. Take advantage of the winter lull to get your garden ready for the exciting growth that’s just around the corner!

As winter approaches, protecting tender (not hardy) plants from harsh weather is essential to ensuring their survival through the cold months. Here are some effective ways to safeguard your garden’s most vulnerable plants:

Mulching: A thick layer of mulch—such as straw, leaves, or wood bark chips —around the base of plants helps insulate roots from freezing temperatures. Mulch also prevents soil erosion and maintains moisture levels, which is crucial during winter dormancy. A mulch can also suppress weed growth so it’s a win win!

Covering with Frost Fleece Cloth: Fleece cloths or garden fabric are breathable covers that trap heat and shield plants from frost. Make sure the fabric doesn’t touch the leaves directly, as it can cause damage. Support with stakes or canes to create an air pocket around the plant.

Potted Plant Protection: Bring potted plants indoors or into a conservatory where possible or place them in a sheltered area, such as a garage or porch. If that’s not possible, group pots together and wrap them in insulating materials like burlap or bubble wrap.

Wind Barriers: Winds can cause rapid temperature fluctuations, drying out plants. Erect a windbreak using fencing or wind break fabric (which we sell).

Lifting: Where soils become saturated in winter you should lift any tender bulbs, corms or tubers and store them in a frost free dark place (like a garage) before replanting them in the spring.

With these precautions, your tender plants will have a better chance of thriving when the spring thaw arrives!