Expert Shares 4 Important February Gardening Jobs
While the garden may be looking bare over the winter, there are plenty of jobs to be done to protect, prune, and prep plants for the upcoming months. So, gardening expert Paul Parker, from plants and bulbs specialists J. Parker’s, shares 4 important tasks to be completed in February.
Divide snowdrops and winter aconites
“February is the peak time for snowdrop displays, commonly known as the herald of spring, their nodding bell blooms are an early signal that the new season is just around the corner. Although snowdrops will naturalise without any intervention, if you want to introduce these early spring bulbs to other areas in your garden, now is the time to lift and divide.
Using a trowel, shovel, or hori hori knife, simply lift these clump-forming flowers out of the ground. Then split the bunch right through the roots to create two clusters. One cluster can be planted back in the original spot, and the other half can be planted in a desired location. These new plants will form new colonies and naturalise to produce more flowers the following year.
This is why Snowdrops in the green are available to buy at this time of year, as growers can lift bulbs in clumps.”
Chit potatoes
“Chitting potatoes in February and March will prepare them for planting in the ground by the time spring arrives. For those new to growing potatoes, ‘chitting’ is the process of allowing your seed potatoes to begin sprouting before planting them outside.
Not all varieties will need chitting. You should do this step for first and second early potatoes, but main crop varieties can be grown directly outdoors once the threat of frost has passed.
Simply stand each potato in a tray (or an old egg box carton will do), keeping them somewhere cool and light. Don’t keep them in a shed or dark garage, as the sunlight will help to speed up the process. On the other hand, if the room gets too hot, they will shrivel, so find a bright, lightly warm spot for them. For the best results, this should be done roughly four to six weeks before you plan on planting them in the ground or in a grow bag.”
Transplant shrubs while they’re dormant
“Now that shrubs are in their winter dormancy, February is the perfect time to move them into a new spot in your garden. This is important if you have noticed your shrubs aren’t getting what they need in their current home. For example, if they are a sun-loving shrub, make sure you move them to a sunnier location in your garden.
It’s as easy as digging up your shrub from the roots and transplanting it in a new spot, making sure to give it a good drink of water to help it take root. Make sure not to move any winter shrubs that are currently in flower.”
Prune wisteria, clematis, and other climbing plants
“If you have wisteria in your garden, the key to sensational purple plumage come summer is to give the plant a good winter prune in February. This is a vigorous climber that requires pruning twice a year, once in winter while the plant is dormant and again in summer to maintain an ideal size and shape. To give a wisteria a winter prune, using a clean and sharp pair of secateurs, cut back stems to three buds from the base of the plant.
Another plant that will benefit from a healthy prune in February is clematis. Prune late-flowering clematis by cutting the stems down to a healthy bud, ideally around 30 cm away from the base. When your clematis starts to grow again, you’ll see neat and tidy growth and avoid the leggy look.
Also, climbers like ivy and Virginia creeper can be pruned to keep stems away from window frames, doors, and gutters. Try to complete this before birds start nesting to ensure you’re not disturbing any wildlife later in the season.”
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