February Beds and Borders

We’ve been asked what could be done in garden beds and borders in February.

Providing the soil isn’t so wet that it sticks to your boots and garden tools, February is a good time to look over your beds and borders to ensure plants are given the best start to the growing year and perform much better in the future. For example, trimming over winter flowering heathers with shears when the flowers have faded to remove the old flowers and about an inch of the growth will not only keep them tidy and more compact but will also improve their flowering next winter. After pruning, give a light feed with a controlled release fertiliser and mulch around them with a composted bark.

If snowdrops didn’t flower well this year, it pays to lift, divide and replant them after flowering and while they still have their leaves. Make sure you improve the soil with compost or composted bark before replanting.

Any dead stems of herbaceous perennials that were left on for winter interest can be cut back to ground level. If any perennials didn’t flower well last year and have formed congested clumps it would be a good idea to lift and divide them, replanting only the healthy new portions from the sides of the clump. This is especially good for asters and phlox which are prone to mildew disease as they get older.

It’s also a great time to get planning for any gaps in your plant beds and maybe adding a bit of seasonal colour to get you through to spring. Our garden centres are full of ideas and our home grown plants will make a great addition to your garden.