February Garden Tasks: Getting Ready for Spring

As winter comes to a close, February is the perfect time to prepare your garden for the upcoming growing season. While the weather may still be cold, there’s plenty you can do outdoors to set your garden up for success. Here’s a simplified guide to the essential tasks for February.

1. Pruning

February is a great time to prune deciduous trees, shrubs, and hedges. Remove any dead or damaged branches to encourage healthy growth when spring arrives. Be sure to avoid pruning spring-flowering plants like lilacs and forsythia until after they’ve bloomed to preserve their buds.

2. Weeding

On milder days, take the opportunity to get a head start on weeding. Winter weeds like chickweed and bittercress are likely appearing, and removing them now will save you time later. For an easy and efficient way to weed, try our Hori Hori Knife This tool is ideal for digging out weeds, and its sharp blade makes the job quicker and simpler. The leather holster ensures it’s always within easy reach when you need it.

3. Soil Preparation

If the ground isn’t frozen, now’s the time to improve your soil. Spread compost over your garden beds to enrich the soil with vital nutrients. This will help prepare the ground for planting when the warmer weather arrives.

4. Planting

While it’s too early to plant most flowers and vegetables outdoors, you can plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and roses if the soil is workable. Snowdrops "in the green" (those already sprouting from the bulbs) can also be planted now for early blooms in the season.

5. Garden Structures

Now is a great time to install garden structures like trellises, arbors, and fences. Without the distraction of foliage, it’s easier to position these items in the perfect spots for supporting plants when they start to grow.