Investing in your garden in February can set your landscaping project up for a fantastic spring. It gives you a chance to clear weeds and other undesirables, as well as make changes you’d been leaving for after the summer. Follow these tips to give your garden a boost before the upcoming season!
Lawn Care
In the cold winter months, it’s likely that you will not need to cut the grass very often. However, this doesn’t give you an excuse to take your eye off the ball completely. Don’t let your grass grow too long and give it a sprucing up every once in a while.
Don’t walk around on your grass when the weather is frosty. This will damage your lawn by leaving brown patches of (dead) grass.
Your Flowers
Go through the borders and eliminate any weeds, which will set things up perfectly for mulching in the spring. Do this process with patience. It may take a little while, but it’s worth doing.
Next, check the tubers of your plants – make sure there are no signs of dampness (leading to rotting). Plants that are dried out will also be useless, so watch out for these also.
Landscaping
There are several precautionary measures you should take. First of all, make sure your outdoor water pipes have been drained and/or protected from extreme weather.
Your paths are also liable to become extremely slippery if you have algae. You should remove as much as possible. If you struggle, consider buying a quality herbicide to help you.
February gives you a good opportunity to see your garden in a ‘bare bones’ state. This is the perfect time to plan changes or make any alterations you’d been thinking about in the past. Garden lighting, stepping-stones or decorative gravel are all worth considering.
If you want to add a new shed, decking, raised flowerbed or compost bin, then February is also ideal for such larger projects. This is because you won’t have to deal with much plant life and your garden will also have sufficient recovery time before spring.
Hedges, Trees and Shrubs
If you really want to do some planting during February, it’s possible. Just make sure the ground is not waterlogged of completely frozen. Make sure you watch for replant disease – for example, don’t plant roses in the exact location where you’ve had them planted in the past.
Pruning evergreens is best left to the following season, as frost can cause damage. However, it’s the perfect chance to cut back Virginia creeper, Boston ivy and ornamental vines.
Garden Pond Care
Ensure your pond has been cleared of any leaves remaining from autumn. If your pond has been covered by ice, don’t crack it! Instead, use boiling water to melt a hole in the ice instead.
Always be aware of the water levels, lest you have a leak anywhere.
This is also a good time to invest in pond equipment such as pumps. The reason for this is that many suppliers will be clearing stock in preparation for next season, meaning you can often grab yourself a good bargain.
