Tasks in February

Flower garden

Cut off leaves of hellebores that produce flowers from ground level to expose the flowers. Mulch to reduce flower spoiling by mud splash.
Herbaceous perennials can be moved, divided and replanted.
Sow seeds of Begonia, Lobelia, Salvia and Pelargonium in a heated greenhouse or propagator to provide early plants.
Sweet peas can be sown inside a heated propagator, in long tubes filled with compost. Some varieties need chitting and/or soaking in order to germinate well.
Plant lily bulbs in pots and in borders during mild spells.
Take root cuttings now. e.g. Papaver, Verbascum, Acanthus and Phlox.
Pots sheltered by eaves, balconies or in cold frames may need watering.
Prune back overwintered fuschias and restart in sheltered spot.
Alpines should be mulched with gritty compost.
Plant or divide snowdrops and aconites after flowering.
Restart gladiolas corms and dahlia tubers.
Towards end of month topdress borders with Growmore.

Trees and shrubs

Plant bareroot deciduous hedging plants and trees. Insert stake before planting to avoid damage to the roots.
Plant roses, but avoid areas where roses were previously grown.
Move established deciduous trees and shrubs, provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
Check tree ties and stakes on established plants.
Firm back newly planted trees and shrubs lifted by frost heave or strong winds.
Check protective coverings.
If there is snow, brush it off the branches of conifers, climbers and light-limbed shrubs and trees.
Many deciduous trees, shrubs and hedges can be pruned from now throughout the dormant season. Ornamental cherries,almonds and plums should not be pruned.
Wisteria and Campsis. Cut back the sideshoots to two or three buds. Avoid cutting off flower buds.
Ornamental vines, ivy, Virginia creeper and Boston ivy can be cut back now.
Remove reverting green shoots on variagated evergreens.
Cut out top rosette of Mahonia to encourage branching.
Cut back Summer flowering clematis.
Cut back winter flowering Jasmine after flowering. Trim summer flowering jasmine.
After pruning mulch and feed.

Lawns

Repair lawn edges with turves to improve the appearance.
New turf can be laid if the weather is mild.
Use highest setting on mower to mow grass if growth begins.
Moles remove munds and re-firm before overseeding in spring.
Brush away worm casts and any other debis.
Repair hollows and bumps in the lawn. Make an H shaped cut in the turf, peel back the grass, and either fill the hollow with loam, or scraping away the soil from a bump.