There are several important gardening jobs you should consider doing now, so you can get your outdoor space in the best possible shape for when spring arrives. Here are five key jobs you should prioritise, according to an expert.
Prune roses
Michael, a brand ambassador for Dobbies who shares gardening tips and tutorials online, recently shared key gardening jobs you should make sure to do before the end of February. Known as the Mediterranean Gardener online, he said on TikTok: “Now is the time to start pruning roses and climbing roses, but not ramblers, as they’re pruned in late summer.”
Late winter (February or March), is a good time to prune roses – which involves cutting them back to encourage new growth. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), cuts should be no more than 5mm above a bud, and should slope downwards away from it.
He added: “Don’t forget you can propagate new roses from the leftover hard wood cuttings.”
Winter prune wistera, grapevines and fruit trees
Michael also recommends “winter pruning your wisteria, grapevines and fruit trees”. Regular pruning is essential to keep its vigorous growth and overall size under control. According to the RHS, in January or February you should “cut back the shoots you pruned in summer to two or three buds”, before growing season starts.
Winter pruning grapevines will also help management through growing season, and helps improve the level of crops produced. Fruit trees should also be pruned every winter to keep them productive and control size.
Sow sweet peas
The gardener also said February is a good time to “sow sweet peas in pots, as long as you keep them frost-free”. According to the RHS, you should fill a pot with seed compost almost to the top, then make a hole with your finger and place six seeds in each pot.
You should then cover them with 1cm of compost, water them, and cover them with a polythene bag. They should be kept at a temperature of around 15C, and when they have germinated, remove the covering and transfer them to a cold grame.
They add: “Plant the seedlings out in a sunny spot in the garden after the last spring frosts about 20-30 cm apart.”
Plant rhubarb, bare root bushes, trees and canes
According to Michael, February is a great time to “plant rhubarb, bare root bushes, trees and canes”. Rhubarb “thrives in even the coldest sites”, according to the RHS, and is “low maintenance and extremely easy to grow”. They just need a lot of space. New rhubarb is best planted when it’s dormant, so generally from November to March.
Bare root means that a plant is dormant, which is why winter is an ideal time to grow them. They are supplied with no pots or compost, and have strong roots.
Winter also seems to be the best time to plant canes, as it gives them plenty of time to flourish the next spring.
Prune citrus trees
According to Michael, the end of February is a great time to be pruning your citrus trees. Oranges, lemons and limes require minimal pruning to be kept under control and looking good. February is a good time to remove overcrowded branches.
The RHS recommends pruning back by up to two-thirds if the “plants become leggy”. They add: “The leading (tallest) branch may also be cut back to induce bushier growth.