Contents
What to do in the garden in February
Following my usual format, I’ll break this blog post down into sections: flowers, vegetables, jobs, wildlife. Not forgetting all my February gardening tips too 🙂 Before we start though, please admire the athleticism of two of our three cats, Loki and Ginger. (Spooky is curled up inside on Flora’s bed as usual).
Winter flowering plants in February
Still flowering happily are some of my favourite scented outdoor Winter plants. In the orchard we have the Daphne odora and next to our front door is our glorious Winter Honeysuckle. The Daphne is slightly wasted in the orchard, but once planted you shouldn’t move these shrubs as they sulk and tend not to recover. Maybe I’ll just have to buy another one 🙂
And our beautiful, reliable Hellebores are coming into their own too. Quite honestly, they are the most undemanding of perennials, and every garden should have lots of them. They’re not the cheapest of plants but if you can find some on the sale table at garden centres, you’ll be winning. Don’t worry about what they look like on top, as long as their roots are healthy, they’ll settle in and grow away very happily.
What to do in the vegetable garden in February
Despite the cold weather, February gardening is well underway. My November sown broad beans* are ready to be planted out in a raised bed, underneath a frost protection fleece*. It’s far too early for the sweet peas* though, so I’ll leave them in the greenhouse and keep pinching out the tips to encourage more side shoots for less spindly plants. In due course I’ll move them outside to some cold frames, to harden them off before planting out after the last frosts.
As mentioned last month, our apple and pear fruit trees are booked in for their prune at the beginning of March, but it’s too early for our soft fruit plum and cherry trees so we’ll leave them until Summer.
February gardening jobs
Top of my February garden chores is to finish clearing, feeding, and mulching our flower and vegetable garden beds. Particularly so I can plant out our broad bean plants. And to move all the newly sprouting tulip pots that I finished planting up at the end of last year into various spots around the garden for Spring colour.
Other jobs on the February garden maintenance to do list are to finish cleaning our garden tools and spraying them with WD40 to protect them against rust. It’s amazing how well old secateurs respond once they’ve been given some TLC 🙂 Alan needs to give the lawn mower a once over as well, as next month it will be time for the first light trim of the year. And we need to replace some of the summerhouse guttering so that the rain can continue to fill up the water butts. Lastly, I have to sort through all my seeds, ready to get seed sowing next month. I’ll start seeds indoors first, probably tomatoes and cucumbers and possibly some cobeas.
Plus, I have some new plants to get in the ground before the next frost. I have three Foxgloves (damp shade), three Euphorbia (dry shade), a Cytisus Broom (sunny position), and another Hellebore (damp shade) that I have to find homes for. Happy Days! Lastly, top February gardening tip: as the days get warmer, put your house plants outside for a few hours of fresh air during the day – especially if it’s raining – they’ll love you for it.
Wildlife gardening jobs for February
One of Alan’s most important February gardening jobs is keeping our bird feeders topped up with quality wild bird food* every day, and replenishing the ever popular high energy fat balls* too.
February gardening – a summary
Well, that’s the end of my February gardening update and reminder of what to do in the garden in this month. One thing I forgot to mention, now’s the perfect time of year to review your garden design, before too much growth gets going. We’ve cleared out all the rubbish from in front of our orchard wall, and cut back some of the overhanging ivy to create a new flower bed, which I’ll add to over the coming months. Although, ivy provides shelter for all manner of insects and is a great food source for some birds too. So, if you do have some, by all means keep it under control, but please don’t hack it all away.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my February gardening round up this month? Thank you for reading, and I hope you’ll come back for your March virtual visit in a few weeks’ time too, when there should be lots of Spring colour to enjoy and share with you.
What are you growing in your February garden or outside space? How much colour are you seeing? Are there any gardening questions you’d like answered? Pop them in the comments if so!
* This post features affiliate links but all opinions are my own (see my Disclaimer).
I love reading these posts, Lisa! We’ve made a lot of progress on our garden already this month. We moved into our new house in September last year and would love to get the garden looking inviting before summer starts. We’ve also started planting some veggies with our little girl. She’s really been enjoying it and seeing things grow.
Claire. X
Oh, your garden sounds amazing – how exciting to be starting from scratch, so many possibilities! Also, brilliant that your little girl is getting involved – Flora used to love it too when she was smaller, although make up etc has taken over now, haha x
This is interesting. I like the tips for looking after tools. I had my garden cleared and redesigned last year so I will be looking at planting some of the suggestions. I especially feel like primroses.
It’s cheaper to look after your tools than it is to replace them (speaking from experience!). And yes, primroses are lovely, so cheap but so cheerful.
Great post, as always Lisa! I love the Primrose and the Iris – those are seriously pretty and the purple is so striking. I’m loving the nights getting longer and lighter now, I hate the short and dark days! I’m so ready for Spring 🙂 xxx
Thank you, Jenny! Yes, I agree, Spring can’t come soon enough, I am very much not a Winter girl, I hate the cold and the dark! xx
I am SOOOOOO jealous! Our country is still covered with ice and snow.
I can’t wait until we can move into our house with a garden so I could finally create my own blossoming heaven 🙂 And I think I need to make a special notebook for your blog for tips to plan a garden that is beautiful all year round. I like to have a garden where something is blooming from spring to autumn. For winter I guess I have to settle with spruces and tree of life with garden lights. But the snow/ice free time there should be something
Ah, thank you, that’s so kind of you! My goal is to have a garden with colour all year round but ours is still very much a work in progress – in fact it will probably still be that in 20 years time too!
I always love giving your posts a read. I’m not really a gardener myself but I always pass on what you’ve written to my nan who absolutely loves gardening. Thank you so much for sharing Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Ah, thank you so much, that’s so lovely to hear your Nan enjoys my round ups 🙂 x
I love my hellebores and want more, but they are difficult to find in the garden centers around here. I’ve always wanted witch hazel, too. Thanks for the great suggestions for more winter spark.
Oh, that’s a shame – what about looking online? I only said garden centres as you can see what you’re getting but online would work too, I’m sure 🙂
Your garden looks lovely Lisa 🙂 thank you so much for sharing your story, I always enjoy hearing about it x
Thank you, Eleanor, I’m so pleased you enjoyed the post x
Your blog so often makes me wish I could try my hand at gardening, but it requires so much time out in the sun – and I get so sick if I’m in the sun for much time at all – especially in the heat! Plus bees and I are not friends… or really, bugs in general haha. SO I shall admire your beautiful garden and all of the skill you’ve cultivated over the years instead 😉
Ah, Stephanie, thank you so much, that’s so kind of you – sorry to hear about the sun and bugs, though, that’s such a shame. Maybe you could try some indoor gardening instead? 🙂
Really enjoyed reading this – so informative. Totally agree about hellebores, such a beautiful plant and so easy to care for too.
I’m looking forward to trying to grow vegetables from seed this year, many of which will be new to me as I’m a novice gardener, so will definitely come back here for more tips as we go through the year 🙂
Very best wishes
Sarah x
Thank you, Sarah, that’s so good to hear 🙂 Growing from seed is definitely the best way to learn (and have fun too) although things don’t always go as you hope, haha! x
We went through our seeds today and pulled out the calendar we use to plan our planting cycles in sync with the moon cycles. It always feels a little more like spring to me when it comes time to start thinking about the garden. 🙂
Absolutely, seed sorting and planning ahead are the sure signs of Spring 🙂
Oh to live in an area that allows you to garden in February. That is the dream! I must live vicariously through your garden for now, as ours has about 4 feet of snow in it, haha. The number of flowers you have up and flowering is amazing. Doing garden tool maintenance is so important. I used to slack off with that and ended up with a lot of rusty tools that took a lot of work to restore. Now I do it at the end of the growing season to save myself a hassle in the future.
That’s a great tip, Sarah, I should try and remember to clean our tools at the end of this year instead of leaving it until January/February. Just remember, snow is an insulator, all your plant babies are snuggled up underneath!
I really appreciated your February gardening tips. I especially loved seeing all of the gorgeous flowers blooming in your garden right now!
Thank you, Heidi, so happy you enjoyed it the post 🙂
Awesome update, and you got new plants. We not growing anything I’m thinking to get my own garden soon.
Thank you – and yes, definitely try growing something yourself, even inside works too 🙂
You have quite a lot of flowers in bloom. I only have a few snowdrops, but I’m happy with those, as the magpies were really keen on the bulbs after I planted them and I wasn’t sure I would have 1 snowdrop. The weather here is a bit wet, so there aren’t many plants in bloom, but there are quite of few of them growing nicely.
I am looking forward to March when it comes to my garden.
Yes, I’m quite surprised actually, things have taken much longer to flower this year. Sorry to hear about your magpies, I had no idea they found snowdrop bulbs such a delicacy!
Well, Lisa, I don’t need to tell you, I love your gardening posts. I’m gardening vicariously through you.
Ha, that comment made me chuckle, thank you, Beverly!
Beautiful flowers, I love your irises. February is already a working
time in the garden..
Thank you, Gabi, yes, indeed it is 🙂
I’m so ready for the snow to melt away and for Spring flowers to come through for that beautiful bit of colour they bring. Your garden, as ever always looks lovely!
Fortunately, we don’t have snow here, but I hope I haven’t tempted Fate… thank you, Molly, that’s very kind!
Oh your cats are the absolute cutest! I really love how colourful and vibrant your garden always is, it’s absolutely beautiful! I’d love to get some primroses and snowdrops for my garden too, I think the slightly paler colours would really work with my garden. Thanks for sharing x
They are, they are! Pale yellows and white against green is one of my favourite planting combinations – love the sound of your plans, Ceri! x
You have so many plants still flowering! I’ll be honest, I’m beyond jealous! Here in Ontario, Canada we’re at the point where there is still snow everywhere so the plants haven’t even considered emerging yet. I try to get my fix indoors with houseplants but it’s just not the same (and I’m super restricted there thanks to the cats lol). We moved to the new house in December, so I haven’t seen the front gardens firsthand without them being snow-covered yet. However, they look like they are nice spaces to work with. Looking forward to the arrival of spring!
Oh wow, a new house and a whole new garden to play with, you are lucky, Britt! Exciting times ahead, I hope the snow clears soon so you can get started!
Your garden looks way much beautiful in February. I love looking at the flowers. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Fadima, that’s very kind of you 🙂
the pops of white and purple on the green grass are quite beautiful, lisa! love your garden.
Thank you so much, that’s very kind 🙂
Ahhh I love your garden blog posts, I’ve not had a chance to get outside and do any gardening yet due to the storm, but hopefully this weekend!
Thank you, Amie, and yes, our garden is taking a bit of a battering at the moment too 🙁
Oh my, your garden looks fabulous! I can’t wait to move in my own house to grow mine out! I’ll definitely return to your posts for some ideas 🙂
xo Olivia | http://www.oliviaandbeauty.com
Thank you, Olivia, I’m so pleased you enjoy my updates 🙂
I loved reading your February garden update, you’ve had so many flowers blooming and blossoming! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you, Lucy, we have indeed, it’s been quite surprising! x
Your garden is soo pretty! I wish we lived on the first floor so I could have a garden again.
Thank you! I hope you can too, but perhaps you could grow some edibles and flowers indoors in the meantime?
I love all the flowers, never seen Honeysuckle before. I learn so much every time I read a post. Thank you so much, Lisa 🙂
That’s so lovely to hear, thank you!
Loki & Ginger are too cute! As always, I love seeing all the flowers & veggies growing. I’m sorry to hear about your Romanesco cauliflowers, but it’s great that you’re using it as a learning opportunity.
I noticed some daffodils popping up here so I’m excited for the transition to Spring.
They are, and great garden company too! Yes, all our daffodils are opening up now, it’s such a joy to see them, a real sign of Spring 🙂
I always love seeing your garden! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Giulia, glad you enjoyed the post 🙂