We have just had the first night temperature since mid December which did not fall below zero.  For much of this time the ground has been covered in snow, which does two things.  It helps offset the -18C we have seen a number of times and because the snow is slowly evaporating the ground is actually quite a bit drier than you might expect for this time of year. 

If you have particularly tough soil then about now will be one of the better times to break it up.  Obviously you need to wait until it is not sticky wet, but you then often have a week or two when it is at its most workable before it dries out so much that it becomes concrete like.  Obviously the more clayey your soil then the more this is the case.   I have been building raised beds for the vegetable patch and have had a couple of days when the snow was (mostly) gone and digging out some large plants and digging down for the corner stakes was very easy indeed.

Looking on the bright side, Rhubarb is a crop which needs a number of frosty nights to be at its best and we have probably trebled this minimum already this year.  Get your buckets, bins, composters or whatever over the roots to force a lovely sweet pink crop within the next couple of months.  Importantly you must then rest the plant for the rest of the year to let it build up its strength.

Another benefit is that the populations of bugs and slugs etc. will be much reduced and the hungry birds, which hopefully you have been encouraging by feeding, will be more than happy to polish off many of the survivors, so hopefully this will be a good year for pests.

Given the last few months you might easily have been lulled into a feeling that this will be a much slower year than usual.  In fact the opposite will be the case shortly.  Mother Nature is champing at the bit to make up for lost time as soon as the temperature rises enough, so be prepared for a mad rush.  If you are not bringing on your own plants from seed then make sure that you do not miss out on the Society plant sale.  All the plants are brought on and properly hardened off in the locale, so giving them the best possible chance to thrive.  Our attempts to expand the choice from mainly bedding plants continues this year with a number of quite large specimens which might make a good central focus in a smaller garden or suit a larger more informal garden, such as Gunnera and some of the larger Inulas.

We are not yet into the need to cut the lawn, but if you did not get your mower serviced at the year end then you should do so urgently.  It is surprising how one warm sunny weekend suddenly causes a 6 week backlog at the servicing agents.  As the worst of the weather passes you will have the chance to remove all the debris left on the borders which has been helpful in protecting the plants therein.  Remember this is ideal compostable material.  You will also have one very last chance to prune plants such as the dogwoods which really need this for colour in the new growth and also for containing what otherwise easily becomes an overgrown plant.

THE FEBRUARY GARDEN

Things to do in February

This year has started with the worst weather in a long time. However the bulbs have been pushing ahead under the snow and we even have some snowdrops showing colour giving us some comfort that the worst is probably behind us.

At the moment the ground is still frozen to quite a depth so there is little chance of planting anything out for some time.   If soil is prepared for planting cover it with polythene sheeting, this will stop it from getting wet and warm the soil so that when you do plant they will get away quicker. 

Instead content yourself by spending some time in the greenhouse especially if you have some heat on, but don't start your annuals to early, it's a long time for seedlings to be in trays and they could get drawn. Latter sown annuals soon catch up if you can be patient and you won't have to look after them as long. At the end of the month things like Lobelia, Pansy and Antirrhinum can be sown.

Look out for perennials which flower in the first year from seed – started in February these will bloom in August this year and for years to come. 

Start stored Dahlia tubers in the greenhouse if you intend to take cuttings from them – this is the best way to increase your stock and gives more vigorous plants.

Sow greenhouse cucumber and tomatoes.

Outside there is still time to plant bare-root trees, shrubs and roses when conditions are right.

If snow lies on hedges, shrubs and trees, remove it before it breaks or disfigures the plants.

Pruning of shrubs can start when the conditions allow it – I’ll be waiting for a bit yet considering the way things are just now however.