In February, some days can feel like spring, and we get the urge to go outside again. This also makes it a wonderful month to get to work in the garden. Keep in mind that frost can still return and cause damage to pruned or new plants. At least you can get started with these tasks next month.
Garden Chores
It may sound strange, but weeds continue to grow even in winter. Walk through the garden and pull out the still small weed plants directly from the ground. Now their roots are still very small, and you can easily remove them completely. Later in spring, you'll be grateful you did it now! Additionally, weeds are the ultimate place for plant diseases and fungi to survive in the garden during winter.
Improve the soil in your border and/or vegetable garden by digging it over and adding compost or stable manure. Only dig the soil when it's not too wet or frozen. Frozen ground is actually ideal for spreading compost because you won't sink into the soil.
Decorative Pots
Always ensure that covered pots and containers don't dry out in winter. Pots on a balcony or under a lean-to don't get enough moisture from the rain and can also dry out in winter.
Shrubs and plants whose leaves and/or branches do not die back, such as hydrangeas or skimmia, should receive fresh potting soil at the top of the pot after a year. Remove 2 or 3 centimeters from the top layer and replenish with fresh potting soil or compost. Furthermore, add organic fertilizer if it's not already in the soil.
Perennials
Plants that return to your garden are called perennials. Most die back completely above ground in winter, leaving only the stems of the spent flowers. By the end of February, the first perennials will start to sprout again. It is therefore advisable to cut back all old stems at the beginning of the month. If you haven't already, remove rotten leaves from the plant's core. Make sure rotten leaves never remain on the plant. If it stays too wet under the dead leaves, the plant itself can also start to rot.
When plants start to sprout, they need a lot of nutrients to continue growing. Additionally, it takes longer for organic fertilizer to be absorbed than, for example, chemical fertilizer. Therefore, spread organic fertilizer on and around the plants at the beginning of February. The advantage of the slow absorption of organic fertilizer is that the plant grows slower, resulting in a healthier plant.
Do you want to enjoy new flowering perennials this summer? Then now is the time to choose and order them. From September, growers remove perennials from the ground, and the bare roots are processed and stored dry for sale. In February and March, it is still possible to plant bare roots. The soil is often less wet, and the ground warms up quickly when spring arrives. These are ideal conditions for quality plants to grow into beautiful specimens!
