February is when winter begins to wane and spring approaches, so there's yard work to do this weekend. The sunny days of February, especially towards the end of the month, will cause some plants to bloom. However, February can have some of the coldest days bringing rain, sleet and occasional snow. So do not rush to sow the seeds, as there may be winter weather. Speaking to garden centers across the UK, Katrina Roach shared three must-do gardening tasks this month that are perfect for this weekend.
1. Clean up the garden
With the prolonged period of freezing temperatures the UK faced this winter, this could cause plants to go into a prolonged dormancy and, as a result, gardens would be left with dead leaves that need to be harvested.
The gardening professor explained that you should use a hand fork (in smaller borders) or a rake (in shrub borders) to remove excess dead leaves.
However, she noted, gardeners should leave enough leaves to warm the soil and provide a home for overwintering invertebrates.
Katrina indicated that there are some plants that need to be cut down now. Even in February, when the weather is warm, gardeners can begin growing and pruning perennials.
Read more: 'Aggressive' garden plants to 'avoid' - 'they'll break through walls'
To prune them, the expert said, "I usually use hedge shears to remove faded flowers and rounded shrubs in neat piles."
He added that slow-growing oaks need little pruning, and some vigorous forms can start to look weak when a branch grows in the wrong direction.
Katrina warned: “Be sure to treat this as early as possible in the new year or you will see fluids oozing from the wound like water from a tap. The same goes for vines, whose stems can lose juice if pruned too late in the season.”
The gardener explained that although he started pruning climbing roses in November, now is the best time for gardeners to do this work.
Read more: Winter pruning is a 'must' for plants - 5 things you 'must' prune now
She said, "I started pruning the climbing roses in November, but it's easier now that their leaves have fallen and I can clearly see how the stems are shaped to their supports (horizontal wires or trellises) to increase blooms next summer."
For roses, Katrina advised gardeners to tie off errant branches to support the preservation of the rose without sacrificing the fruit.
He added that it was "time" to prune an outer bud and remove any dead or crossed branches. The idea is to improve aeration by thinning the center of the bush and giving it a cup shape.
If your rose was affected by black spot last season, remove and discard dead leaves to prevent spring rains from spraying fungal spores that cause this unsightly condition onto this year's new leaves.
3. Mulch
Mulching involves adding a thick layer of material to the soil and around the plants. Katrina said it's important to get this work done before signs of new growth begin to appear in the spring. In this way, gardeners reduce the risk of damaging precious bulbs.
However, if some bulbs are already showing their heads above the ground, be careful around them and put mulch around their bases.
The expert said: “The advantages of mulching far outweigh the disadvantages, as it helps warm the soil, protects delicate plants, improves soil structure through the action of invertebrates such as worms and beetles and generally improves the appearance of borders. Nothing like a generous layer (preferably 5cm) of rotted compost well or garden compost to loosen up a bunch of hellebore."
Katrina said she prefers well-rotted compost, but also uses composted bark chips and mulch made from leaves harvested a few fall ago.
