This is the last opportunity to carry out winter pruning on apple and pear trees. Cut autumn raspberry canes to ground level ensuring you leave no stumps that could harbour disease.
Prune out a quarter of blackcurrant older growth at ground level. Apply a general purpose fertiliser to tree, bush and cane fruit and mulch with well-rotted manure or garden compost.
Force rhubarb by covering the crown with straw or leaves then cover with a bucket or dustbin with ventilation holes or a purpose made rhubarb pot to have early sticks in March.
Clean out existing bird boxes or put up new boxes, continue to provide food and keep bird baths topped up with fresh water.
In late February cut back ornamental grasses and other perennials left for winter interest. Prune back shrubs hard such as Cornus and Salix grown for winter coloured stems. Top dress beds and borders with a balanced fertiliser.
Cut back late flowering (group 3) Clematis such as Clematis viticella, C. orientalis and C. “Jackmannii” to a low pair of strong buds. Prune late summer flowering shrubs such as buddleia, lavatera and fuchsia hard.
Once winter flowering heathers have finished flowering, trim back with shears.
Leave a Reply