Prepare Your Garden for Spring with These Key Tasks
February might still bring cold temperatures and frosty mornings, but signs of spring are just around the corner. This is the perfect time to get a head start on garden maintenance, ensuring your outdoor space is ready for the growing season ahead. From pruning and planting to wildlife care, here’s your essential February garden checklist.
1. Prune and Shape for Healthy Growth
Now’s the time to prune many trees, shrubs, and climbers before they break into growth.
✅ Winter Pruning of Deciduous Trees & Shrubs
- Prune apple and pear trees to encourage strong new growth. Remove dead or crossing branches and open up the centre for better airflow.
- Trim wisteria, cutting back side shoots to two or three buds to promote flowering in spring.
- Prune roses to remove dead wood and shape them for a stronger structure.
- Cut back late-flowering clematis (Group 3) to around 30cm to encourage fresh new shoots.
❌ Avoid pruning stone fruit trees (plums, cherries, peaches) now, as this can expose them to silver leaf disease.
2. Get Your Lawn Ready for Spring
✅ Lawn Maintenance Tips for February
- Rake away dead leaves and debris to prevent moss buildup.
- If conditions are dry, lightly aerate compacted areas to improve drainage.
- Edge and tidy borders to give your lawn a crisp, neat appearance.
- Consider applying iron sulphate moss killer if moss is taking over, but only if the lawn isn’t waterlogged.
3. Start Early Seed Sowing Indoors
✅ Best Seeds to Sow in February
- Vegetables: Start chillies, tomatoes, aubergines, leeks, and early lettuce indoors or in a heated greenhouse.
- Flowers: Sweet peas, lobelia, and begonias can be started indoors for a summer display.
- Hardy Annuals: Sow snapdragons and cornflowers in trays for early blooms.
❄️ Tip: Use a heated propagator or place seed trays on a sunny windowsill to help germination.
4. Prepare Garden Beds & Borders
✅ Tidy and Mulch Flower Beds
- Remove weeds and spent plant material to give new shoots room to grow.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch (compost, bark, or well-rotted manure) to improve soil health and moisture retention.
❄️ If frost is still a concern, hold off on digging until the soil starts to warm up.
5. Protect and Support Wildlife
✅ Garden Wildlife Care
- Keep bird feeders topped up with high-energy foods like suet, sunflower seeds, and mealworms.
- Provide fresh water in birdbaths and break any ice in freezing weather.
- Leave areas of shelter, such as log piles or undisturbed corners, for insects and small mammals.
- Install nesting boxes now before birds begin choosing nesting sites in early spring.
🌿 Bonus Tip: Plant early-flowering bulbs like crocuses and snowdrops to provide a nectar source for emerging pollinators.
6. Get Your Greenhouse & Tools in Order
✅ February Garden Prep Tasks
- Clean and disinfect your greenhouse to remove pests and fungal spores.
- Check stored tender plants (dahlias, cannas) for signs of rot or drying out.
- Sharpen and oil secateurs, shears, and mower blades so they’re ready for spring pruning and cutting.
7. Plant Bare-Root Trees and Shrubs
✅ Ideal Bare-Root Plants for February
- Fruit Trees: Apples, pears, plums, cherries—perfect time to plant before bud break.
- Roses: Bare-root roses establish well when planted in winter.
- Hedging Plants: Box, beech, hornbeam, and hawthorn can be planted now.
🌱 Tip: Soak roots in water for a few hours before planting and ensure they’re well-watered after planting.
8. Tackle Weeds Before They Take Over
✅ Early Weed Control Saves Effort Later!
- Hand-pull annual weeds like chickweed before they flower.
- Use a hoe on dry days to break up soil and disrupt weed seedlings.
- Apply a mulch layer to smother weeds and retain soil moisture.
9. Plan Your Spring Garden
✅ Now is a great time to think ahead
- Order seeds, bulbs, and summer-flowering plants before stocks run low.
- Plan crop rotation in vegetable beds to keep soil healthy.
- Clean out old pots, trays, and seed-starting containers ready for the busy spring season.
🌿 February is all about preparation—small tasks now make for a stunning garden later!
Need Help with Your Garden?
If you’d like professional hedge trimming, lawn care, or pruning this season, Project Garden is here to help! Contact us today to book a visit and ensure your garden is in top shape for spring.
📞 Call 07795 800 772
📧 Email info@projectgarden.co.uk
Let’s get your garden ready for a fantastic year ahead!