Bulbous and tuberous plants kept in containers over winter can get damp and rot. Pots of dahlias, agapanthus and lilies should be stacked on their sides, one on top of the other, in a cold greenhouse to stop moisture getting into the roots. When the weather improves in February or March, stand them the right way up, water well and start them growing again.
Cut back herbaceous perennials and deciduous grasses left for winter interest before new growth commences. Prune shrubs hard such as Cornus and Salix grown for winter coloured stems. Winter flowering jasmine can be pruned after it has finished flowering. Prune Wisteria and Campsis by cutting back side shoots to 2 or 3 buds. Prune late summer flowering shrubs such as Buddleja, Lavatera and Fuchsia hard.
In the greenhouse aubergines, tomatoes, chilli, celery, cabbage and leeks can be sown. Outside in the vegetable garden peas, parsnips, broad bean, shallots and onion sets can be sown. Buy seed potatoes and start chitting them. Try and finish pruning apple and pear trees by the end of the month. Cut autumn raspberry canes to ground level ensuring you leave no stumps to harbour diseases.
Prune out a quarter of blackcurrant older growth at ground level. Put up bird and bat boxes, keep bird feeders and birdbaths topped up, and clean them regularly. An old saying of weather lore comes as a warning to gardeners as well as wildlife – If the birds sing before Candlemas (2nd February), they will cry before May.
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