Gardening tips

Flowers

Plant spring ‘potted bulbs’ such as daffodils, crocus and snowdrops if you didn’t get a chance to plant any bulbs in autumn/winter.
Prune hellebore leaves to expose the flowers and reduce the risk of hellebore leaf spot.
Sow antirrhinum, begonia, geranium, lobelia, sweet pea, and verbena seeds.
Inspect your stored dahlia tubers for any signs of rot or damp damage.

Begin by chitting your first early and main crop seed potatoes in a light, cool, and frost-free location so that they are ready for planting in late February and March.
Plan out your vegetable or flower grids to get ready for planting when the time comes.
If you plan to sow runner beans, prepare the vegetable beds by digging a long trench and filling it with well-rotted compost. In April, simply cover the filled trench with soil and sow your runner bean seeds directly on top.

Plant soft fruit bushes and fruit trees ready for the summer.
Inspect your established fruit trees for any wind damage and securely anchor them to the ground with stakes or ties.
Protect early fruit blossom from frost by covering with fleece.

February is the peak wild bird feeding month as their natural reserves have been depleted.
Check the bird bath regularly to ensure it hasn’t frozen over.

Clear up weedy beds.
Net vegetable crops to keep the birds off.
Clean the greenhouse.
Protect lily, delphinium, sweet pea and hosta shoots from slugs and snails before they appear and eat the lot! We suggest using natural methods such as copper rings, beer traps or encouraging more wild birds into the area.

This time of year is an opportunity to build a pond if you don’t already have one!
Secure pond netting to prevent falling leaves and debris from contaminating the water.
If you have fish, use pond heaters, air pumps, or floating devices to prevent the water from freezing over, as this can be fatal.
Refrain from disturbing any frogs or toads around the pond, allowing them to conserve energy throughout the colder months.

Mow towards the end of the month if the temperature is above 5 degrees and it is a dry day.
If you are wanting to sow a new lawn in the spring, start prepping the area now if it is not a waterlogged month. Weed, dig over the soil, rake it level and then let it settle until March or April.

During the winter season, trim dead flowers from winter-blooming houseplants such as cyclamen. To extend the flowering period, keep them in a cool, well-lit area.
For a healthier and cleaner houseplant, wipe down its leaves once a month to remove dust.
Citrus trees in pots should be top-dressed with a fresh layer of compost, and/or repotted if they have outgrown themselves.