Monthly Advice For February

 

Good Tools!

If you haven't already, now is the time to ensure all your garen machinery is correctly serviced. With the busy spring and summer months ahead, you will need your lawn mowers, strimmers and other equipment in good order.

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Ground Warming.

If the weather permits you can begin prepare the ground for spring planting. Placing a protective cover over areas of soil you intend to plant or sow seeds, will assist in warming the ground and allow the sowing to begin earlier.

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Bonemeal.

February is a good month for a dressing of bonemeal to shrub borders and beds. The bonemeal will take a few weeks to break down in the soil, providing a ready source of plant food when they need it.

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Spilt Your Snowdrops!

Have you got overcrowded Snowdrops? Its a good time to split them, by digging them up and gently teasing the bulbs apart. Replant in groups of five.

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Soggy Lawn?

If the winter has left the lawns looking a little damp, pierce them all over with a garden fork at six inch intervals, this will help with drainage.

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Crocus

If you have had a mild winter, crocuses can make a stunning impact in late winter and early spring especially when planted in drifts across the lawn.

For late winter flowers try:

Crocus sieberi 'Tricolor' or Crocus sieberi ' Hulbert Edelstein'

For spring flowers try:

Crocus corsicus, Crocus cvijicii or Crocus 'Skyline'

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Pruning Winter Fruit

Its time to make sure that any winter fruit have all been pruned. Apples, gooseberries and pears should all be cut back, this will encourage new shoots and buds to grow. If you happen to have raspberry bushes, the pruning needs to be ruthless, back to ground level. this will ensure come September/October you will get some lovely berries.