| Spring may seem a long way off,
but calm, sunny days will bring early daffodils and crocuses into
flower to join the snowdrops. Don't be fooled though – February
is often the coldest months of the year. Those clear days may
bring hard frosts at night. Listen to the weather forecast and
protect vulnerable plants. If you want to get some fresh air, why
not fork over the soil; between established plants and mulch with
one of the range of J Arthur Bower's mulches and soil
conditioners. This will help get your soil into good heart.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR
FEBRUARY
- Start to prune roses and clematis
- Plant bare-rooted trees, shrubs, roses
and hedges
- Mulch round established plants
- Pick off dying flowers from winter
bedding
- Start to sow summer bedding in a heated
greenhouse
- Split overcrowded snowdrops and plant new
bulbs
- Plant lily bulbs in pots
- Start to sow vegetable seeds under
cloches and in propagators
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TOPICAL TIPS FOR FEBRUARY
- Start to prune clematis. For more help to
get you started, read our Quick Guide. Clematis fall into one
of three basic categories – early-flowered such as montanas,
early large-flowered hybrids and those flowering after
midsummer. The ones that need pruning now fall into the last
two groups, so check first which varieties you've got. For the
last group, the late-flowerers, it's very easy – cut them
down to six to eight inches above soil level, cutting just
above a bud if you can. Don't prune spring-flowering clematis
or you'll get no flowers! After pruning feed with your
favourite J Arthur Bower's plant food, either Growmore or
Fish, Blood and Bone. The early large-flowered varieties are a
bit more tricky. You need to cut back healthy stems to just
above a strong pair of leaf buds. Don't cut right back or you
won't get the early flowers at all.
- Split clumps of overcrowded snowdrops by
digging them up and gently teasing the bulbs apart. Replant in
groups of five using a handful of peat or J Arthur Bower's
Mulch and Mix in the planting hole.
- Continue to plant bare-rooted shrubs,
trees and perennials.
- Continue to mulch established borders.
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- Roses can also be pruned now. Shrub roses
don't need much trimming, but you can be quite severe with
hybrid teas and florabundas. First cut all dead wood, then cut
out crowded or crossing stems. Finally cut back the remaining
stems by about half. Aim to cut to just above an outward
facing bud and this will help to make the bush grow outwards.
After pruning use J Arthur Bower's Pure Rose feed
- Continue to plant bare-rooted roses
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- If your lawn is a bit soggy, pierce it
all over with a garden fork at six-inch intervals to help
drainage.
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- You can make the first sowings in a
heated propagator of summer bedding. Those needing an early
start include petunias, geraniums, Busy Lizzies and nicotianas.
Use one of the J Arthur Bower's seed composts, or
multi-purpose composts.
- Tomatoes can also be sown this month
- Towards the end of the month start
pelargoniums into growth by watering gently. Once growth
starts, cut back the plant and repot it into fresh
multi-purpose compost
- Fuchsias can also be started. Cut them
back to about six inches, report into multi-purpose compost
then water gently.
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- Keep picking off the dead heads from
winter pansies and primroses to keep them looking good.
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- Under cloches you can sow broad beans,
early carrots and parsnips.
- Sow summer cabbages, onions, leeks and
peas in a warm propagator.
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- Sow small quantities of parsley seed in a
seed tray.. It's a good idea to sow parsley every four weeks
until autumn. This will ensure a succession of fresh foliage
for harvesting. To help the seeds germinate, soak them in warm
water for several hours, then dry before sowing in your
favourite J Arthur Bower's Seed Compost.
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- Continue to plant bare-rooted fruit trees
- If your fruit trees have had a lot of
problems with pests and diseases it's worth trying a spray of
tar oil winter wash over the trunk and branches. Always follow
the instructions carefully and be sure not to spray on a windy
day.
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- Cut back in decaying plants and remove
dead leaves from your pond if you didn't do it in the autumn.
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- If frost has lifted your alpines firm
them back into the soil or replant if necessary. Dress round
the plants with J Arthur Bower's lime-free coarse grit.
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NEED MORE HELP?
Look at our information pages. The aim is to
cut out the mystique that surrounds many common tasks, and to
explain in a simple way, why and how to do them. This way, we hope
to help you enjoy your garden more, and get the best out of it.
Under each topic, you'll also find a guide
to the wide range of J Arthur Bower's products available to help
you with that particular task. The choice is yours.
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