Posted by Hannah Rowson on 24th Jan 2025

Gardening Jobs for February

February is here and the garden is getting busier! As we approach spring, this month is all about preparing your garden for the season ahead. If you’re struggling with your to-do list, we’ve compiled our top February gardening jobs from decades of experience.

What to plant in February

Divide Snowdrops and Winter Aconites.

Using a trowel, shovel or hori hori knife, lift these clump-forming flowers out of the ground and split through the roots - creating 2 clusters. Plant one of the halves back in the original spot (or move elsewhere if desired) and plant the other in a new location. These divided plants will continue to form new colonies and naturalise over time, leading to more flowers the following year.

Divide clumps of herbaceous perennials and grasses.

Using the same method as above, lift and divide these plants and create a new colony elsewhere in the garden. Perennials and grasses are extremely hardworking, productive plants, and will continue to grow in their new spots. It’s like getting more of the plants you love for free!

Transplant shrubs while they’re dormant.

Your shrubs will now be in their winter dormancy, meaning it’s the perfect time to act on that impulse to move them to a new spot. Safely dig up your shrub from its current home and transplant it into a new place. If you’ve noticed your shrubs aren't getting enough of what they need, move them to an area that they'll prefer. For example, if they haven’t got enough sun, transplant where your garden gets the most sunlight in Summer.

Plant Dahlia tubers in pots.

You might be thinking, ‘What can be planted in February?’ Well, this will promote the growth of new shoots while you wait to plant them outdoors! A warm, light greenhouse will promote the growth of new shoots and get your tubers ready for outdoor planting in Spring.

A tip from our experts: Take cuttings from the new shoots and use these to grow your own Dahlias! Getting more plants for free is always a quick win for the garden.

Later in the month, you can start planting your summer-flowering bulbs indoors, like begonias or lilies. Start your bulbs off in pots, and place them somewhere safe from frost and with a bit of natural light. Your bulbs will start to establish the essential shoots they’ll need for outdoor planting in early Spring.

Sow sweet peas in a greenhouse.

Sow your seeds in seed trays in a heated, light greenhouse to prepare them for outdoor planting in Spring. February is the ideal time to start sowing these gorgeous flowers.

What to do in the garden in February

Trim ornamental grasses left standing over winter.

This is great for starting spring with a fresh feeling. Tidy up your old displays before new shoots start to appear to get the new season off to the best start.

Prune late-summer Clematis.

When pruning, you will need to cut the stems down to a healthy bud, ideally around 30 cm away from the base. When your Clematis starts to grow again, you’ll see neat and tidy growth and avoid the dreaded leggy look.

Prune winter-flowering shrubs.

When they’ve finished flowering, shrubs such as winter Jasmine, Mahonia and Heathers can all be pruned back to ensure the new growth maintains the desired shape and feel. Don’t neglect pruning - it’s a small task, but really does pay off when you see the shapely blooms in spring.

Cut back Wisteria.

Using a sharp pair of secateurs, cut Wisteria stems back to three buds from the base of the plant. Again, this will maintain a tidy display but also encourage vigorous new growth and an abundance of gorgeous blooms as they begin to flower.

Prune Buddleja back to the base to keep them at a reasonable size.

We know these plants specifically can get carried away when growing, so make sure to give them a good hard prune to shape to your liking!

Trim back climbing plants like Ivy and Virginia Creeper.

Climbers also get carried away, just like Clematis and Wisteria. Pruning these now will ensure they grow into a shape that perfectly fits the space, and you’ll thank yourself for that in summer. Try to complete this before birds start nesting to ensure you’re not disturbing your wildlife later in the season.

Hold off on fertilising Roses.

It’s common practice to start adding slow-release fertiliser to roses and other flowering shrubs in February; however, we’ve found adding fertiliser after the first signs of Spring to be much more effective. Hold off for now, but remember to fertilise flowering shrubs as soon as Spring rolls around.