What to Do in the Garden in February
February gardening guide covering everything from chitting potatoes to pruning clematis. Prepare your garden for spring with these essential tasks.
February marks the exciting transition from winter to spring. Days are lengthening, snowdrops are blooming, and the garden is waking up. This is the time to prepare for the busy growing season ahead.
Key Takeaways for February
- Chit seed potatoes on a cool, bright windowsill
- Prune wisteria and late-flowering clematis
- Prepare vegetable beds with compost
- Sow early seeds under cover
- Cut back ornamental grasses before new growth
- Continue planting bare-root trees and shrubs
Flowers
February is the last chance for many winter tasks before spring arrives in earnest. Prune roses and cut back grasses before new growth emerges.
February Flower Tasks
- Prune bush roses to an outward-facing bud
- Cut back ornamental grasses before new shoots emerge
- Divide snowdrops after flowering while 'in the green'
- Plant lily bulbs in containers or borders
- Prune late-flowering clematis (Group 3) to just above a pair of buds
- Prune winter-flowering jasmine after flowers fade
- Prepare dahlia tubers by potting up in warmth
- Order summer-flowering bulbs like gladioli and dahlias
- Apply mulch around rose bushes
- Continue deadheading winter bedding
Fruit and Vegetables
Start chitting seed potatoes and sow early vegetables under cover. Prepare beds by adding compost and plan your successional sowing.
February Fruit and Veg Tasks
- Chit seed potatoes on a cool, bright windowsill
- Sow broad beans, peas and spinach under cover
- Prepare vegetable beds with well-rotted compost
- Plant shallot and onion sets in mild weather
- Sow chilli and pepper seeds in a heated propagator
- Finish winter pruning of fruit trees
- Feed fruit trees with a general-purpose fertiliser
- Force chicory roots for chicons
- Protect early blossom from frost
- Net brassicas against pigeons
Greenhouse
The greenhouse becomes increasingly busy in February. Start sowing half-hardy annuals and prepare for the propagation season ahead.
February Greenhouse Tasks
- Sow sweet peas for early flowers
- Start begonia and gloxinia tubers into growth
- Sow tomato seeds in a heated propagator
- Pot up overwintered geranium cuttings
- Sow hardy annuals for cutting gardens
- Clean greenhouse glass inside and out
- Check stored bulbs and tubers
- Increase watering as light levels increase
- Ventilate on mild days
- Check heaters are working efficiently
House Plants
Houseplants start to perk up as light levels increase. Consider repotting any that have become root-bound.
February House Plant Tasks
- Start increasing watering as growth begins
- Repot root-bound plants into larger containers
- Begin feeding with dilute liquid fertiliser
- Prune leggy growth on trailing plants
- Check for pests as warmth increases
- Mist humidity-loving plants regularly
- Rotate plants for even growth
Garden Maintenance
Complete any remaining winter maintenance before the busy spring season begins.
February Maintenance Tasks
- Repair lawn edges damaged over winter
- Service lawnmowers and garden equipment
- Clear debris from ponds before amphibians breed
- Top-dress lawns with a mix of loam, sand and compost
- Check stakes and ties on trees
- Continue feeding birds with high-energy foods
- Prepare new beds and borders
- Apply a thick mulch to borders
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