Copyright © Birchgrove Garden Centre Ltd 2007

SEASONAL INFORMATION FEBRUARY
As the days lengthen, early spring bulbs and Snowdrops start to provide the garden with some welcome colour, take time to see where you could add some winter fragrance with a well placed shrub.
Borders
Lightly trim winter flowering Heathers when the flowers die off, helps to keep them neat and compact.
Divide Snowdrops after flowering
Plant Lily of the Valley Crowns, not too deeply mind, they prefer to be shallow.
Towards the end of the month, prune summer flowering shrubs. Look out for potted spring bulbs for some early colour in your containers.
Fruit & Veg
Tie in wall trained fruit trees and bushes. If mild, buds on peaches and nectarines will need to be sprayed for peach leaf curl, call in at the Garden Centre for advice.
Complete the pruning of fruit trees, sealing wounds with a protective compound.
If necessary, winter tree wash can be applied now up until May.
Broad Beans can be sown this month, Peas can be sown indoors. Sowing them in lengths of guttering is a popular method and helps protect from the mice!
Dig and store any root crops still in the ground.
Check stored vegetables and remove to the compost heap any that are rotting
Lawns
Keep off in frosty weather
Ensure that the mower is serviced
Spike lawns to aid drainage
Greenhouse
Keep an eye on plants for signs of diseas etc. Good ventilation will help where possible.
Check the glass is not too loose after high winds
Wash seed trays, pots etc. Ready for sowing.
Sweet Peas can be sown this month, they have a long root system so save those loo roll cartons, they are ideal!
General Tasks
Check slabs etc. for lifting or cracking in the frost and replace or re-
Provide food and water for garden birds
Chit your potatoes, keeping them in a light, frost free area. Egg boxes are ideal for this. Eyes uppermost.
Plants which are at their best in February
Eleaanus vars.
Thuya 'Rheingold'
Corylus Avellana 'Contorta' (Contorted Hazel)
Bergenia 'Abendglut' (Elephant's Ears)
Clematis Armandii
Crocus Varieties
Daphne Odara
Primula
Mahonia ‘charity’ ‘wintersun’
Chaenomeies
Cornus dogwoods