February has traditionally been seen as a dull month, as this quotation from Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare demonstrates:
‘Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?’
As an eternal optimist and gardener, I think this is a little unfair, as the days are gradually getting longer which means more February gardening time to add a little sparkle to the month ahead.
Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering
Pruning deciduous shrubs that flower in late winter, spring and early summer not only encourages strong healthy growth but improves flowering. Prune these shrubs immediately after flowering to allow time for new growth for the following year’s flowers. This includes Flowering Currant, Forsythia, Philadelphus and Weigela.
Wisteria should also be pruned twice a year, in July/August and again in January/February. Cut back any shoots you pruned in the summer to 2-3 buds in January/February as this will tidy up your Wisteria before the growing season and mean the flowers will be prominent and not covered by lots of leaves.
Cut back deciduous grasses and remove dead grass from evergreen grasses
If like me, you leave your ornamental grass for wildlife to shelter in over the winter, now is the time to give them a haircut ready for the spring. Some deciduous grasses can be cut back hard, almost to ground level while others don’t produce new growth until later in the season, so check online to see which category your plants fall into. Miscanthus for example, should be pruned from mid-March to April. Make sure you do this carefully with secateurs to make sure you don’t cut off any new shoots in the process.
Pull out any dead leaves or debris from deciduous and evergreen grasses and remember to remove any weeds at this stage so they don’t become established in the crown of the grass.
Tidy up your flower beds
I will admit to allowing fallen leaves to act as insulation during the winter, but now is the time to clear any soggy vegetation out of the way. This will allow air to circulate round the base of your shrubs and will give you the opportunity to have a good look at what is going on in your garden. Clear any obvious weeds and look for potential pests which will be easy to clear by hand before everything starts to grow.
I like to add mulch now to make sure the shrubs have all the fuel they need for strong growth in the spring – make sure you leave space round the base of plants to allow air to flow. If you have clay or compacted soil, gently dig over the beds to improve the drainage of the soil, but don’t do this if the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
What to plant in February
Snowdrops can be planted in the green (once they have flowered and before the foliage dies back). To help these little plants spread, dig and divide them immediately after they have flowered and replant about 30cm apart.
As well as snowdrops, Camellias will be starting to flower soon which will add a pop of colour to the greyest of days – there are so many amazing colours to choose from so have fun. Just remember not for plant them in an east facing position as any frozen buds will blacken as the first sun hits them in the morning.
If you go to any garden centre now you are sure to find a Daphne, a lovely upright, evergreen shrub with fragrant pink and white flowers. This is a real winner as it thrives in fertile, free-draining soil as well as containers and as a slow growing shrub, it requires very little pruning.
For the ultimate sparkle and golden ray of colour, you might also consider a Winter Jasmine. This beautiful creeping vine can be used as ground cover and can also be trained on wires or trellis. It’s very hardy and will survive almost any sun and soil conditions – perfect!
So, when it comes to the month of February, I prefer the American poet Philip Henry Savage’s idea that:
‘When February sun shines cold
There comes a day when in the air
The wings of winter slow unfold
And show the golden summer there.’
If you would like further advice about how to make your garden sparkle in February, then please get in touch to arrange a FREE 30 minute consultation.
