February in the Garden

February in the Garden

February sits quietly between winter and spring a month of subtle shifts and early promise. The days are slowly lengthening, the light softening, and beneath the cold soil, life is beginning to stir.

It’s a time for gentle preparation. Nothing rushed, nothing forced just small, mindful jobs that set the garden up for the season ahead.

What to Do in the Garden in February

• Cut Back Ornamental Grasses -Now is the perfect moment to cut back deciduous grasses such as Calamagrostis and Miscanthus. Their winter silhouettes have had their moment, and clearing them now makes space for fresh green growth to emerge.

• Sow Tomatoes and Chillis - For those with a warm windowsill, greenhouse or heat mat, February is the time to sow tomatoes and chillies. These long-season crops appreciate an early start and will reward your patience later in the year.

• Improve Your Soil by Mulching - Spread compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure over beds to protect soil structure and gently feed the earth. Think of this as tucking your garden in and nurturing what’s happening below the surface.

• Prune Clematis (Groups 2 & 3) - Pruning clematis now encourages strong, healthy flowering later. Group 3 can be cut back hard, while Group 2 benefits from a lighter tidy, removing dead or weak stems.

What’s Happening in the Garden?

• Snowdrops and winter aconite brighten borders with quiet optimism.

• Buds begin to swell on shrubs and trees.

• Birds grow more active, gathering materials for nests.

Final Thoughts

February is a month of preparation. You can feel the shift, even if the garden still looks sleepy. Every seed sown, every plant cut back, every handful of mulch is an act of faith in what’s to come.

It’s not about doing everything, just doing enough to welcome spring when it arrives.

All my love, love from Donna 🌷