Top 7 Critical Gardening Tasks to Do in February

Many gardeners think February is still a month for sleeping. They are wrong. In the gardening calendar, February is the most underrated month of the year. It is the "pre-season" where the battle for a successful summer is won or lost.

The days are getting longer, the sun is stronger, and plants are sensing the shift. If you wait until March or April, you are already behind. Here is your expert checklist to get ahead.

1. Prune Late-Flowering Clematis and Wisteria

Now is the absolute last chance to prune Group 3 Clematis (the ones that flower in late summer). Cut them back hard to about 30cm (12 inches) from the ground, just above a healthy bud. For Wisteria, cut back the side shoots to 2-3 buds. This concentrates the plant's energy into creating flower clusters rather than long, leafy whips.

2. Chit Your Potatoes

"Chitting" simply means encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting.

• Place your seed potatoes in egg cartons or a wooden tray.
• Keep them in a cool, bright, frost-free place (not a dark cupboard!).
• The goal is to get short, dark green shoots (about 1 inch long).
• This gives them a 2-3 week head start, meaning earlier harvests in June.

3. Sow Sweet Peas and Chili Peppers

Some seeds need a long running start.

• Chili Peppers: They need a long, hot season to fruit. Sowing them now on a warm windowsill gives them the time they need to mature.
• Sweet Peas: Sowing now develops a massive root system. By the time you plant them out in April, they will be robust and ready to climb, flowering weeks earlier than spring-sown ones.

4. Feed Your Soil (Mulching)

The ground is likely still cold, but it’s the perfect time to add a thick layer of organic matter. Spread compost or well-rotted manure over your empty vegetable beds.

• Don't dig it in. Just lay it on top.
• Worms will do the work for you, pulling the nutrients down into the soil structure ready for planting.
• This also suppresses early spring weeds that are just waking up.

5. Clean and Sharpen Tools

It sounds boring, but it's vital. Dull shears crush plant stems instead of cutting them cleanly. A crushed stem is an open door for disease.

• Use a file or whetstone to sharpen blades.
• Rub linseed oil on wooden handles to prevent splinters and rot.
• Disinfect everything to kill overwintering fungal spores.

6. Force Rhubarb for Early Stems

If you have a rhubarb crown, cover it with a bucket or a traditional terracotta forcing pot.

• This blocks the light and warms the air around the bud.
• The plant will grow rapidly in the dark, producing pale, tender, and super-sweet stems weeks before the uncovered ones.

7. Build or Repair Infrastrucure

Once the leaves are on the trees and the beds are full, you won't have space or time to fix fences, trellis, or raised beds. Do the "hardscaping" now. Build that compost bin you promised yourself. Fix the leaning trellis. February is construction month.

FAQ – February Gardening

1. Is it too early to sow tomatoes? For most people, yes. Unless you have heated grow lights, February tomatoes will get "leggy" and weak on a windowsill. Wait until March.

2. Can I prune roses now? Yes! February is the perfect time to prune bush roses. Cut them down hard to encourage vigorous new growth.

3. What happens if it snows after I prune? Hardy plants like roses and apples generally don't mind cold after pruning. It's the new soft growth later in spring that is vulnerable.

4. Can I plant trees in February? Yes, as long as the ground isn't frozen solid or waterlogged. Bare-root trees and shrubs are still dormant and can be planted safely.

5. Should I water my pots? Check them. Winter winds can dry out containers surprisingly fast. If the soil is dust-dry, give them a drink, but don't soak them if a freeze is forecast.

6. Do I need to heat my greenhouse? Only if you have tender seedlings or overwintering tropicals. For hardy annuals, a frost-free greenhouse (5°C/40°F) is enough.

7. Is it too late for garlic? It's getting late, but you can still plant garlic bulbs in early February. They need a cold period to split into cloves.

8. How do I stop weeds now? Hoe them on a dry day. The seedlings are small and weak in February. Disturbing them now kills them easily before they root deep.

9. Can I cut my grass? Only if it's growing and dry. Set the mower blades to the highest setting. Do not mow wet or frozen grass; you will damage it.

10. Why are my bulbs coming up so early? Mild winters confuse plants. Don't worry; spring bulbs are hardy and can handle a return to frost even if they have sprouted leaves.