Your Gardening Guide: February

With warmer days just around the corner, there is plenty to do in the garden ahead of the growing season. But, this requires careful planning and attention in order to kickstart your fruitful garden! 

In this blog, our gardening gurus take you through the must-do tasks for this month, as well as a guide on which flowers, fruits and vegetables to plant in spring, as well as which crops should be ready to harvest at this time of the year!

Your Complete Garden Task Checklist

Here are the essential jobs to do in February to prepare for the warmer months ahead:

Prune Trees & Bushes To Encourage Growth

Removing and cutting back unruly branches may seem counterintuitive, but this method actually helps to promote new growth ahead of the summertime. Different species have different pruning needs. Research the specific requirements of the bushes or trees you plan to prune, but as a brief guide, start by:

• Removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches, and cutting them back to healthy wood or the main stem.
• Use the appropriate tool for the size of the branch, making clean cuts just outside the branch collar (the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk).
• For shaping, selectively prune branches to encourage a balanced look.
• Avoid cutting too close to the trunk or leaving stubs, as this can lead to disease and decay.

Remove Debris Ahead Of Spring Wildflowers

February marks the arrival of wild spring plants including daffodils, bluebells, cow parsley and wild garlic (one of our favourite herbs!), but these beautiful plants won’t grow if your garden is covered with dead leaves and branches. 

Clean up your garden borders, around bushes, and under trees to help your garden flourish. Don’t throw away any garden debris without checking your local council website for the proper method of disposal.

Get a Head Start On Seed Sowing

Whilst it is definitely too cold outside to plant some fruits and vegetables, you can still get a head start on your spring and summer gardening by starting some plants off indoors, or in your greenhouse if you have one. You could germinate:

• Salads such as spinach, rocket, or lettuce
• Hardy salad leaves like kale
• Herbs such as dill or basil
• Tomatoes and peppers

Provide seeds with warmth, moisture, and adequate light to stimulate germination and healthy growth.

Plant Spring Bulbs in Pots

There are so many bulbs ready to plant ready to bloom in the summertime - and compared to some of the other tasks on this list, this is one of the quickest tasks to tick off! Using a 12-inch planter of your choice (a wicker or a terracotta pot is our go-to), fill it with soil before adding in bulbs of your choice. This year, we opted for dahlias, 

Looking for stunning planters or tools for your home and garden? Explore the complete garden collection from Northern Willow. We offer free UK delivery on all orders over £100!

Protect Vulnerable Plants From Frost

February is known for its sudden temperature drops and overnight frosts - which can be detrimental to new plants. To keep your seedlings growing, you must take steps to protect tender plants from frost damage. 

Cover less-hardy plants (like green beans) with horticultural fleece or cloches, and consider moving potted plants to sheltered positions or indoors during cold spells. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of plants to insulate roots and conserve soil moisture, providing an extra layer of protection.

If you’re looking for more garden advice, or gift ideas for a fellow garden lover, read our helpful blogs:

How To Make Your Garden More Sustainable

What Should You Gift a Gardener? 10 Ideas For 2024

What To Plant in February

February can be a time to start sowing hardy seeds directly into the garden for early-season crops. Here are some options for what you can plant in February:

Flowers

If you’re after a colourful garden this summer, filled with a range of gorgeous blooms, plant the following flowers this month:

• Sweet peas
• Cosmos
• Salvias 
• Geraniums 
• Alliums
• Lillies
• Roses

Fruit & Vegetables

February is a great month to start seedlings In your greenhouse ahead of the planting season. In February, you could consider planting:

• Cucumber
• Chillies 
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Aubergines

Whilst it may be too cold for growing herbs in February, you can start herbs like coriander, basil, or dill in a sunny spot inside and transfer them to your garden once the weather warms up.

Some plants are fine to plant outside this month, as they are hardy enough to survive the bitter frosts: In raised beds with prepared soil, consider planting the following. 

• Garlic 
• Shallots
• Broad beans (but ensure they are covered to protect against frost)
• Parsnips

Crops To Be Harvested in February

If you’re a keen lover of eating seasonal, organic produce, growing your own fruits and vegetables at home is a great way to do so. If you’ve been keeping up to date with your monthly gardening tasks, the following crops should be ready to eat this month:

• Leeks
• Swedes
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Beetroot
• Turnips

Garden Baskets From Northern Willow

And that’s it - a helpful guide for gardening tasks for February. Keep an eye on our website for our upcoming guides for March, April and beyond.

Looking for beautiful handmade accessories to help with your gardening tasks this February? Look no further than Northern Willow! 

We stock a range of items from our traditional antique wash planter sets to our garden tool baskets - a perfect option for storing your tools. Looking ahead to the warmer months, we also stock handmade picnic baskets and foraging trugs. 

Plus, get free delivery on all orders over £100!