What to do in the garden in February
February in the garden is all about tidying up, sorting out and getting ready for spring. Although spring still feels far away, the first signs of longer days and better weather are on their way. We’ve got loads of garden ideas for February to get you going – the big thing this month is just getting back out there and starting to plan what you want to do with the garden this year.
Give your shed some TLC
After the long, dark winter, garden sheds and fences may well be in need of brightening up. With a lick of fence paint, woodwork can look as good as new, and will be sure to last for many years to come. Now’s the perfect time of year to paint woodwork before your plants start springing to life and growing up your fence as well.
Grab yourself some exterior wood treatment if your wooden buildings are looking a little dishevelled, and finish with either a wood stain to keep its natural appearance or furniture paint for a bold new look! Don’t forget to stock up on the paint brushes & rollers you’ll need to help you apply product.
Start planting the seeds of success
It’s time to start sowing slower-growing, half-hardy annuals and perennial plants indoors. If you’re looking for flowers to bloom in the first year, you’re best off planting seeds at least 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost. Flowers like pelargonium and begonia are easy to grow from seed if you have a warm windowsill or a heated greenhouse. Some seeds take up to a month to germinate – by which time we’ll be getting ever closer to spring and the warmer weather so will be ready to start planting out.
For the best chance of success, start seeds growing in a propagator or in your greenhouse. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, growing from seed isn’t as hard as you might think if you’re savvy about the varieties of seed you choose, and you’ll definitely save money, so it really is worth the effort. If you fancy trying your hand at vegetable seeds, fruit seeds or flower seeds and bulbs, now is most definitely the time to start planning what you want to grow and where.
Keep the birds singing
While the cold weather continues, it’s vital to help keep our feathered friends well fed ready for nesting season.
It’s important to keep bird feed topped up and also to make sure your feeders are clean and fit for purpose. February is also a perfect time of year to put up bird houses – any later in the year and the birds won’t have chance to explore them before it comes to nesting season.
Get the kids involved
Kids love being outdoors and it’s never too early to get them involved in gardening. It’s a fantastic way for the whole family to spend some quality time together. What better way to spend your time than by lovingly growing veg and teaching your kids exactly where their meals come from? Loads of our seeds are easy to grow, making it even more rewarding.
February checklist
Fruit and veg
- Prepare seed beds
- Sow seeds such as beetroot, broad beans and carrots under cloches
- Start sowing veg seeds indoors like leeks, aubergine, brussels sprouts, cucumber and tomatoes
- If you have light soil, plant out onions, garlic and shallots (heavy soils will need warming up a bit more)
Ornamental
- Prune winter-flowering shrubs
- Divide snowdrops
- Start sprouting tubers like begonias and dahlias indoors
- Sow hardy annuals in plugs
- Deadhead winter bedding
- Divide herbaceous perennials
- Plant roses and bare-root shrubs after the last frost
Lawn
- If the weather is mild enough, trim and feed the lawn
- Lay new turf
Hard Gardening
- Paint your fences when it’s dry weather
- Check and repair timber structures
- Sort out your shed
Browse our full garden range at wilko.com.
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