Hampshire Life: February 2019 (^) 107
GARDEN MASTERCLASS
Gardener and broadcaster Toby B uckland
delivers his expert advice
If you have a garden question send to @tobybuckland via Twitter
Beginning of the end
The difference between the start and
end of February may seem subtle, but for
gardeners like me aching for spring to
begin they’re quite significant. Between
the 1st and 28th of the month the hours of
daylight stretch by an hour and 40 minutes,
and this extra shot of solar-energy triggers
sap to rise. The signs are everywhere,
from the tips of bulbs heaving at the soil
surface, to leafless twigs of birch turning
plum-purple and willow and lime trees
burnishing bright red. These first stirrings
of late-winter life are a cue to take heart
and action. Although February may not
mark the end of our winter, for plants it
heralds the beginning of its end.
WHAT TO DO
THIS MONTH
On frost-free days clear
leaves from borders and
mulch with compost to
create a chocolate-coloured
backdrop for emerging
bulbs. Feed hungry plants
like camellia and roses with
a handful of slow-release
bone-meal.
February is a good time
to plant trees especially
apples and pears. Although
container-grown trees can
be planted at any time,
delicate fruit buds are less
likely to damage during
transport while they’re
still tight to the branches.
Winter-prune roses and
apple and pear trees now,
and while you’ve got the
secateurs out give the
last of the herbaceous
perennials the chop so that
the old growth doesn’t
detract from the new.
Now’s the time to sprout
or ‘chit’ early potatoes
so that they’re ready
for harvesting earlier in
summer. Do this by placing
what’s known as the ‘rose
end’ – the side with the
most eyes – upwards in an
egg box or seed-tray. After
three weeks stout buds will
grow after which they are
ready for planting in the soil.
On sunny days give cold
frames and the greenhouse/
polytunnel a good ‘blow-
through’ by opening the
doors. Not only does this
stop the temperature from
spiking, the breeze clears
unwanted fungal spores
from the air.
Despite its delicate
appearance Chaenomeles
‘Pink Lady’ is one tough
cookie. Flowering earlier
than other Japanese
quince, it bears pearly-
pink blooms all through
late winter and into
spring, and the blossom
is followed by a crop of
edible aromatic fruit. Train
against a wall or leave
to clamber into a 2.5m
mound and it’ll not only
brighten your garden, but
provide much needed
food for winter-flying
bees. Plant in sun or part-
shade in any moderately
good garden soil.
Plant of the Month – Chaenomeles ‘Pink Lady’
IF YOU DO JUST ONE THING...
Don’t forget to trim all but the fresh central leaves from your hellebores so they don’t
mask the beautiful cup-shaped flowers.
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