5 essential February gardening jobs from Sarah Raven
As the days slowly get longer in February, our gardens start to wake up from their winter slumber, with our spring-flowering bulbs usually being the first signs of life.
With this renewed energy and growth coming back to our gardens in February, it’s the perfect time to shake off the winter’s chill and get stuck into a few essential tasks to set your garden up for a spectacular spring.
From sowing seeds to planting bare-root wonders, gardening expert Sarah Raven shares her top jobs for February to ensure your garden blooms with colour and abundance over the coming months.
Get organised
“February is the perfect month to prepare your garden for spring,” Sarah tells Country Living. “Use this time to organise seeds, compost, and tools so that you're ready for the busy months ahead. If the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, dig over soil and turn compost to refresh it. Tidy debris from borders and lawns, but avoid walking on wet or frosty ground to prevent damage.”
Clearing away the remnants of winter ensures your garden gets the best possible start. Focus on refreshing your soil, tidying up borders, and making sure tools are in good working order. These small efforts now will pay off as the season progresses.
Start sowing and planting
For those itching to start planting, February offers plenty of opportunities. “Start sowing hardy annuals like antirrhinums and cobaea undercover,” Sarah advises. "Prepare borders for later planting with a generous layer of mulch using your choice of organic matter. This could be homemade compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure if you are lucky enough to have access to it. Alternatively, try our Peat-Free Magic Mulch.”
Lilies are another priority this month. Sarah adds: “Plant bulbs in pots or borders, choosing tall varieties like ‘Casa Blanca’ for dramatic impact or shorter options like ‘White America’ for containers.” These elegant blooms will reward you with striking displays later in the year.
Add instant brightness
February is also the ideal time to add a touch of brightness your garden. Snowdrops, for instance, thrive when planted “in the green.”
Sarah explains: “These resilient bulbs thrive when divided and replanted just after flowering but before their leaves turn yellow. Dig deep to lift larger clumps, and gently split them into smaller ones by hand, replanting at the same depth.
"It’s common to lose a few in the first year, so think of them as a long-term investment that will establish well and put on a rewarding display the following year.”
Prune roses and plant bare-root perennials
“Pruning is key in February," explains Sarah. She recommends lightly pruning late-spring flowering clematis to remove straggly stems, and cutting back hard shrubs like buddleias and hardy fuchsias to encourage compact growth. Once their winter display is over, trim shrubs such as dogwoods and cotinus to keep them tidy and thriving.
Sarah also highlights the benefits of planting bare-root roses and perennials in February. These are more economical and establish well when planted while still dormant, giving your garden a head start for the growing season.
Plan for edible abundance
“In the kitchen garden, chit seed potatoes in a light but frost-free position, and use cloches to warm soil for early crops like broad beans, carrots, and peas,” Sarah suggests.
“Start tomatoes, chillies, and aubergines in a propagator, and sow broad beans in rootrainers for planting out in a few weeks.”
Focusing on these tasks will ensure a vibrant and productive edible garden as the weather warms. By planning ahead and protecting delicate crops, you’ll set yourself up for a bountiful harvest.
Don't forget to celebrate early colour
Finally, February is a time to enjoy the first glimpses of the year’s colour.
Sarah says, “Celebrate the first real colour of the year, whether in the form of Iris reticulata in your containers or an early flowering, deliciously scented shrub. We appreciate colour in the garden much more when there is less of it around.”
Want more gardening expertise from Sarah Raven? Book this tour to learn the secrets of English country gardens with the gardener, writer and broadcaster.
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