On the Lawn
Avoid walking on lawns when frozen. It can damage the grass and often leads to brown footprint-shaped marks. Any leafs blown on to the lawn should be raked up. If left, large clumps of leafs will damage the lawn.
Worm casts can often be a problem as the weather gets milder. Worms bring soil to the surface leaving little mounds which then become ideal places for weed seeds to grow. Spread the worm casts with a rake.
Towards the end of the month, if the weather has been mild and the grass is growing, it may be necessary to cut the grass. Don’t cut it short, raise the cutting height on the mower to the maximum and give the grass a light trim.
If the edges of the lawn have been damaged, repairs can be carried out using turf cut from other areas of the garden (ensure grass types are the same before moving). If the weather is mild, then you can repair hollows and bumps in the lawn by making an ‘H’ shaped cut in the turf, peeling back the grass, and either filling the hollow with loam, or scraping away the soil from a bump. Then re-lay the turf, press it into place and pinch the cut edges together.
Bulbs
Various spring bulbs will be flowering this month. If snowdrops are overcrowded or you want to move them, lift and split snowdrops bulbs and replant while their foliage is still green.
Pot grown bulbs such as daffodils, can be planted outside once they have finished flowering. Allow the foliage to die back naturally.
In the Vegetable Garden
All your digging and ground preparation for vegetables should be completed this month.
If you haven’t already done so, start planning what vegetables you want to grow this year and purchase your seeds. Onion sets and seed potatoes will now be in the shops but if you buy them early, keep them cool to prevent them sprouting too early. If you have a glasshouse you can start your onion sets and potatoes growing in trays towards the end of February – but remember, they will need protection from any frosts we may have.
Fruit Garden
Apply a general-purpose fertiliser to all tree, bush and cane fruit, at the manufacturer's specified rates. Fertiliser is best applied over the whole root area of the plant (roughly equivalent to the spread of the branches, but on the ground). Fruits like Blackcurrants and Gooseberries will benefit from a fertiliser with high potash
Any autumn fruiting varieties of Raspberries, should have all their canes pruned down to ground level. This is best carried out around middle of February, then apply a dressing of fertiliser and a mulch of well rotted compost.
In the Glasshouse and Conservatory
It's always worthwhile washing down the glass at this time of year. Removing all the dirt and grime that has accumulated will increase the amount of light reaching seedlings and other young plants growing in the glasshouse. Washing down the glasshouse will also help to destroy any over wintering plant pests.
If you can provide protection from frost, start Dahlia tubers or Gladioli corms into growth in seed trays or boxes and place in a light, airy location.
Roses
If you have bought new bare rooted roses, plant them as soon as ground conditions are suitable. Avoid wet days and frozen soil. Prepare beds for new roses by working in as much well rotted compost or manure as possible. Also apply a dressing of fertiliser to the soil as roses are regarded as ‘heavy feeders’.
Other Work
Plan your summer bedding and container planting schemes in good time for ordering the necessary seeds, bulbs and plants, and for propagating the relevant material.
Stock up on stakes and ties for the coming season, if you have not done so already.
And remember – minimise your waste!
Add all green waste, including vegetable peelings from the kitchen, to your Compost heap or Compost bin.
Recycle Paper, Cardboard, Glass Bottles and Jars and Plastic.
Collect rainwater in a water butt for the glasshouse, and investigate ways to recycle water for irrigation.