Building DIY Gardening

Bare trees waiting for spring

Weather in February can range from sunny warm days to ice and snow in large qualities. Rain also, wind too. Early sign of spring continue. With England getting warmer, these just continue from early buds in January. SOme don’t die back now, I have a buddleia in the garden which never died back at all, so never got trimmed – I’ll do that anyway before too much growth.

This is all very confusing for a gardener.

Vegetables

Prepare seedbeds. To warm them up a bit, protect from frost etc, you can cover them in polythene. Seedlings like peas, beans, etc can be sown in trays and placed inside the protection.

Fruit

Use tunnel cloches for strawberries, this will make them flwoer earlier. You can open the sides later in the year so insects can get in to pollinate.

Blueberries can be planted in containers or compost sunk in the ground (ericaceous). See our page on composting.

If it is not too cold and the soil is not too hard, you can plant fruit trees. If too cold, cut back dead or diseased wood.

Greenhouse
If it is a warm day, open the windows and ventilate. Try and keep the temperature even over day and night, if possible. Cold nights can be quite severe.

Make a start with seed planting.

Now is the time to clean mould and algae from steps and garden furniture

Trees and Shrubs
Buddleia, hydrangea, lavatera etc. can be pruned, if not done already. These might be in a mess after the winter. This is the last time this can be done or they might not flower.

Plant roses now. Try and avoid the exact same places as diseases can stay in the soil.

Wildlife
Birds will be looking for nests, so if you can, get a nesting box up. There are too many cats in our area for this. Frogs will also be spawning if you have any water areas.

Keep bird food out and make sure there is water as it might be frozen.

Grass
Do not sow grass seed until late March.