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South Downs Nurseries
Brighton Road
Hassocks
West Sussex
BN6 9LY
T 01273 845232
F 01273 847700

February

January   February   March   April   May    June 

July   August   September   October   November   December

February is often the coldest month with the worst weather.

• Flowers and bedding.
  Spring bulbs should be coming through now. If you have gaps buy pots of bulbs and either plant them or sink the pots in the bed. Alpines will also start to flower if the weather is good. Check any that you have placed under glass to protect them from damp. Sweet peas can be sown at the end of the month.

• Perennials
  Mulch beds after weeding. Check on overwintering Dahlias and Chrysanthemums. The first signs of Delphiniums, Lupins and others will start to show in a few weeks so make sure that they will be protected from slugs. Cut off any spotty Hellebore leaves.

• Shrubs and climbers.
  Prune Callicarpa, Campsis, Spiraea and Tamarisk hard back to within a few inches of the old wood. Prune Group 2 clematis - includes the large flowered Clematis such as Vyvyan Pennell, Josephine, Dr Ruppel, Elsa Spath, Lasurstern, Miss Bateman,Nelly Moser etc.They normally flower twice, the first time in early summer on last years growth, and the second time on the current seasons growth. They should be pruned in late winter to a framework of stems. If you overdo it you will lose the first flowering but get extra flowers in later summer.
  Prune Group Three- Includes Clematis viticella, tibetana, tanguitica, rehderiana, Bill Mackenzie, Comtesse de Bouchard, Ernest Markham, jackmanii, jackmanii superba, Ville de Lyon, Rouge Cardinal. They flower in late summer on this years growth. Wait till the dormant buds are about to burst into leaf, then cut the whole plant back to 30cm from the ground.

• Trees and hedges.
  Continue to check for weather damage.

• Roses.
  Plant roses if the soil is still workable.

• Lawn.
  If the weather is mild and the lawn is dry then aerate, scarify and top dress. Use a moss killer if necessary but don't use fertiliser or weedkiller. It is ok to turf if the weather isn't cold.If the lawn or ground is wet then delay for a few weeks.

• Vegetables.
  Buy seed potatoes for chitting. Don't try using cooking potatoes as they may not be suitable for our climate. Continue to sow shallots, peas and broad beans.

• Fruit.
  Apply winter treatment to dormant trees and bushes. Spray peaches and nectarines for peach leaf curl. Try and protect them from the rain. Prune autumn raspberries to the ground.

• Ponds.
  Weed bog gardens, sow primulas in seed trays outside.

• Greenhouse.
  Growth will start in overwintered plants which may need more water. Many seeds can be sown in the greenhouse in February including tomatoes, some bedding and perennial plants.

• Indoors.
  Some houseplants will start into growth as the days lengthen. Be very careful not to overwater them.

Shrubs and climbers for north and east facing walls