Gardening Calendar  

February is a good time to root out the casualties of winter:  Check your plants for any signs of damage following the harsh conditions consistent with the winter months.  Remove or cut back any plants which have turned an unsightly shade of brown and start planning what stock you will need to replace the casualties of winter.

Is it possible to plant?:  The question most frequently asked at this time of year is whether it is safe to plant shrubs, roses, trees and conifers in February.  The simple answer is yes.  Many gardeners believe that the first frost of the season signals the delay of all future planting up of stock until the spring.  This is a common fallacy and in fact you are safe to continue planting right through the winter.  However, remember that if there has been a recent frost, NEVER to turn the frosty soil into the planting hole as this will mean the plant will stay cold for months, seriously inhibiting future new root growth.

Planning in advance:  If you have a bit of spare time on your hands, seize the opportunity to sit down and really plan out your vegetable garden.  Towards the middle of the month it is time to start the serious business of sowing some early crops, such as tomatoes and cucumbers which will need a minimum temperature of 10 - 15˚C (55-60˚F).  If you are aiming to harvest an early potato crop, February heralds the need to be putting the seed potatoes in a tray to encourage premature growth (this is known as chitting).  Don’t plant the potatoes out until the middle of March, when you can be sure the worst of the winter frosts have been and gone.

Are your flowering shrubs anaemic?:  Most soils in this area show an alkaline tendency (soil with a high lime content) but it is still possible to grow plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias successfully by adding ericaceous compost to the soil.  However, do remember that lime will absorb any iron in the soil and there is a danger your plants could end up with an iron deficiency.  Warning signs to look out for are yellow tinges on the edge of leaves – with the leaves eventually dropping off.  An effective product to counteract this problem is sequestrene and the best time to apply this is early spring.

Tub plants:  Water the plants sparsely still and aerate them regularly.  February is a good time for repotting most plants.  Citrus plants and plants such as bougainvillea should only be repotted if they outgrow their pot.

Pruning:  Trees, shrubs, ivy and late flowering clematis can be pruned but only during frost-free periods. 

The garden in general:  Remove weeds, now it is easy to keep on top of things.
Fertilise your borders, shrubs and especially roses using well-rotted cow manure.  To improve clay or sandy soil, add a layer of mulch (well-rotted organic material).

Climbers should be re-tied and trained.