| It may be the shortest month of the year, but | | | | their buds are beginning to open, you’ll have to |
| February can often surprise us with a wide range of | | | | leave it until next winter. The aim of pruning is to |
| weather conditions. There might be snow and frost | | | | remove any dead or damaged wood, allow more light |
| one week, followed by a few mild, sunny days, | | | | and air into the tree, and thin out overcrowded |
| before bitterly cold winds blow in rain and plunging | | | | fruiting spurs. By doing the latter, fewer apples or |
| temperatures again. Any work you want to do in the | | | | pears will be produced but they will be larger and of |
| garden has to be guided by the weather. | | | | better quality than if the tree is left to its own |
| But even if you can only get outdoors for brief | | | | devices. |
| intervals it’s well worth making the effort | | | | Prune summer flowering clematis now to ensure a |
| because some jobs are best done at this time of | | | | good display later in the year. |
| year. Here are some of them: | | | | If you have rhubarb now is the time to force an |
| Plant bare-rooted trees, shrubs and hedging plants as | | | | early crop by covering some of the crowns with |
| soon as possible after receiving them so they | | | | lightproof buckets, boxes or specially designed |
| don’t dry out. If you are unable to put them | | | | pottery forcing jars. |
| straight into what will become their permanent | | | | Start sowing vegetable seeds if the weather allows. |
| positions give them a temporary home in any spare | | | | If you are not sure when conditions are right follow |
| corner. There’s no need to worry about planting | | | | nature’s lead and observe what wild plants are |
| them ‘properly’ with correct spacing or | | | | doing. If new weeds are sprouting so will the hardier |
| staking. The only important thing is to make sure the | | | | vegetables like early carrots, parsnips and broccoli. |
| bare roots are covered with soil. | | | | Onion sets can also be planted. |
| Snowdrops are a welcome sight on grey winter days | | | | And talking of weeds – the earlier you tackle |
| but they are notoriously difficult to grow from bulbs. | | | | them, the fewer you’ll have to deal with later. |
| They are best planted while ‘in the green’ | | | | If you will need some expert help with a landscaping |
| shortly after flowering so now is the time to buy | | | | project this year, such as building new walls, giving |
| them in. If snowdrops are already established in your | | | | your patio a makeover or installing new decking, |
| garden you can lift and divide the clumps to spread | | | | don’t delay in asking a local professional |
| them further. Do you have some to spare? | | | | landscape gardener to visit and give you a free, no |
| They’d make a lovely Valentine’s Day gift | | | | obligation consultation. Finalizing your plans now will |
| for someone! | | | | enable the work to begin as soon as the weather |
| If you need to prune apple and pear trees this year | | | | improves and you will have the whole summer to |
| you must do it soon while they are still dormant. If | | | | enjoy your new garden. |