At a glance
February is when the UK gardening year genuinely begins to pick up momentum. The days are noticeably longer than January – by the end of the month there are two more hours of daylight than at the start of the year – and the first seeds of the season can be started indoors with a reasonable expectation of success. In the garden there is still frost to contend with and beds are often waterlogged, but there is meaningful work to be done and the gardener who is active in February is always ahead of the one who waits until March.
The gardening jobs in February vary significantly by UK region. Tasks described here for southern England may need to be pushed back 2-4 weeks in northern England and Scotland where late frosts are more common and soils warm up later.
First indoor sowings of the year
February is the right time to start the first tender crops indoors – provided you have a heated propagator or a genuinely warm windowsill (18-22°C). Without heat, February sowings of tomatoes and peppers are likely to result in poor, slow germination and leggy seedlings.
| Crop | Sow in February? | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chillies | Yes – ideal | Heated propagator at 22°C | Slow germinators that benefit most from early start |
| Aubergines | Yes – ideal | Heated propagator at 22°C | Need the longest season of any UK vegetable |
| Tomatoes (early) | Yes – late February | Heated propagator or warm windowsill | Only in late February – earlier produces overly large plants |
| Sweet peppers | Yes | Heated propagator at 22°C | Similar to chillies – benefit from early start |
| Onions from seed | Yes | Warm windowsill | Better germination rate than January sowing in most homes |
| Runner beans | No – too early | Wait until April | Will be too large to plant out safely before frosts end |
A heated propagator is the single most useful tool for February sowings. Without consistent soil temperatures of 18-22°C, tomatoes, chillies and aubergines germinate erratically or not at all. A basic heated propagator with thermostat costs £30-50 and transforms February sowing results. It pays for itself in the improved germination rate and earlier cropping of the first season’s plants.
Pruning jobs in February
Roses: Rose pruning can begin in late February in southern England when you see the first buds beginning to break on the stems. In northern England and Scotland, wait until March. Cut hybrid tea and floribunda roses back hard – reducing stems to 20-30cm with an outward-facing bud just above each cut. Climbing roses need lighter treatment – remove dead and weak wood but preserve the main framework.
Hardy perennials: February is a good time to cut back any herbaceous perennials that were left standing through winter for their structure. Cut to 10-15cm above ground level before new growth pushes up from the base.
Ornamental grasses: Cut back deciduous grasses to 10-15cm now before new growth starts. Don’t cut back evergreen grasses – just comb out dead material with your fingers.
Check for overwintering wildlife before cutting back. Hedgehogs, frogs and beneficial insects often overwinter in the dead stems and leaves of herbaceous perennials. Check carefully before cutting and relocate any overwintering creatures gently to a sheltered spot in the garden.
Vegetable garden jobs in February
- Prepare raised beds and vegetable plots – dig over any beds not prepared in autumn, add a generous layer of well-rotted compost or manure and allow the frost to work on the surface. Leave roughly dug – don’t compact the surface.
- Plant garlic and onion sets (in the south) – garlic and overwintered onion sets can go in from late February in sheltered southern gardens. Wait until March in northern regions.
- Chit seed potatoes – place seed potatoes in a cool, light frost-free spot with the rose end (most eyes) facing up to develop short green shoots before planting out in March-April.
- Sow broad beans outdoors – in mild areas, direct sow broad beans from February. Choose a variety specifically suited to spring sowing.
- Check stored vegetables – final check on stored onions, potatoes and squash before they begin to deteriorate in the rising temperatures of late winter.
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Lawn care in February
February lawn care is largely about restraint – the lawn is still dormant and working on wet or frozen grass causes compaction that takes months to recover from. The main task is preparation for March activity.
- Stay off the lawn when wet or frozen – this remains the golden rule through February
- Order lawn care products – spring fertiliser, weedkiller and grass seed should be ordered now ahead of March application
- Sharpen mower blades – service the mower now so it’s ready for the first cut in March
- On a mild dry day in late February – a light top dressing of sharp sand brushed into any particularly compacted areas on a dry surface day can be beneficial
Border and bulb work
- Divide snowdrops in the green – snowdrops are best divided immediately after flowering while still in leaf. Dig up clumps, divide into smaller sections of 3-5 bulbs and replant immediately in their new positions at the same depth. Water in well.
- Plant summer bulbs – dahlias, gladioli, begonias and cannas can be started indoors in pots from February in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory for earlier flowering
- Apply mulch to beds – a 5cm layer of compost or bark chip applied to beds in February suppresses weeds through spring and retains moisture as the growing season begins
- Remove slug traps and refill – slugs become more active in mild February spells. Check slug traps and refill with fresh bait
Greenhouse jobs
- Clean the greenhouse thoroughly if not done in autumn – wash glass inside and out to maximise the light available for early sowings
- Check heating systems are functioning before the first tender sowings go in
- Sow sweet peas in root trainers or deep tubes – they need root depth and cool conditions
- Begin to water overwintered tender plants slightly more as light levels improve
- Check overwintered dahlia tubers and begonia corms for rot – start into growth on the greenhouse bench from late February
February is the month when gardening effort starts to pay forward into the season ahead. Start chillies, aubergines and early tomatoes indoors, prune roses in the south, prepare beds and divide snowdrops. The gardener who is active in February reaps the rewards from May onwards. For next month’s jobs read our guide on March gardening jobs UK.
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