What to do in February

Snowdrops look stunning in carpets around the base of shrubs, trees & in borders. They are a welcome sign that spring is on its way. If you want to spread them around your garden then now's the time to lift & divide clumps of snowdrops when in leaf, also known as 'in the green'.

In the garden… Deadhead winter flowering pansies & bedding plants, pick off damaged leaves, divide congested herbaceous perennials, prune winter jasmine back to flowered shoots, Cut down tall stems of buddleia, shortening them to low growing emerging shoots, move shrubs growing in the wrong place while they're dormant, knock heavy snow off shrubs & conifers to prevent its weight damaging branches, place rabbit guards around trees to protect the bark, when dry days occur walk round and enjoy your space before you forget why you spent so much time and take a few photos!

In the Allotment… Cover areas needed for early seed sowing with polythene or cloches to warm the soil, finish winter pruning fruit trees & soft fruits, cut stems of autumn-fruiting raspberries to soil level, chit seed potatoes, standing them in trays in a light frost free position, sow broad beans, carrots, hardy peas & parsnips outside in soil that's been warmed with cloches, plant shallots outside into well prepared soil, prune side shoots on trained forms of gooseberry back to two or three buds, plant hedging plants, prune down stems of dogwoods,& willows, Cover rhubarb with an old bucket to exclude light & encourage early pickings of long tender stalk.

In The Glass House or Conservatory… Improve insulation in the glasshouse by lining it with bubble wrap and sealing windows. sow sweet peas in deep pots, pinching out shoot tips once two pairs of leaves have developed, plant summer bulbs, such as liatris, begonia, & agapanthus, as well as summer bedding plants in trays maintain frost free conditions by installing a thermostatically controlled electric heater, bring spring bulbs into the glass house to encourage flowering, sow summer bedding, such as begonias, verbena, lobelia, ageratum, pansy, viola & antirrhinum, crops to sow in heated propagators include tomatoes, aubergines, onions, brussel sprouts, spring cabbage, cauliflower, onions, leeks, lettuce, celery and peppers.

General... Fix nesting boxes for birds, hang a fat ball among roses to encourage blue tits to feed off over wintering pests, get petrol mowers and power tools serviced, clear away old plant debris from around the margins of ponds, and scoop out leaves that have fallen into the water, Use a pressure washer to clean paths, steps, paving and patios. Main thing get out & enjoy the start of a new season it reminds us to talk with our neighbors & friends.