February has arrived and longer days are within reach! 🌞 This month is the perfect time for spring garden prep and enjoying those early flowering blooms such as Camellia and Flowering Apricot 'Beni-Chidori' 🌸

Find out how you can bring your spring garden to life with our helpful tips 🪴

1. Prune trees & summer flowering shrubs

Now is a great time to prune many deciduous trees. Remove dead and overcrowded branches to encourage healthy growth come spring.

Important note: Deciduous flowering cherries can be vulnerable to silver leaf (fungal disease) and should not be pruned before mid-summer.

Summer-flowering shrubs like Buddleja, Hydrangea, and deciduous Ceanothus should be pruned between February and March. Since these shrubs bloom on the current year’s growth, pruning helps shape their form, encourages healthy new growth, and removes dead stems to maintain a balanced and attractive aesthetic.

Important note: Hold off pruning evergreen shrubs until later in the year, as they are mostly hardy but may suffer damage when stressed by colder temperatures.

2. Check protective coverings on new plants

Check the protective coverings on newly planted or borderline hardy trees, shrubs, and climbers to ensure they stay secure until the risk of frost has passed. Mulch (a mix of plant debris, fallen leaves and compost) is also a great way to protect your new plant's roots. It offers extra nutrients for growth, especially after pruning. Add 2-4 inches around the base of your tree or shrub.

3. Cut down ornamental grasses & prune winter flowering shrubs

It's best to cut back ornamental grasses to promote healthy regrowth just before spring. Regular pruning also keeps your garden looking tidy. Winter flowering shrubs such as Mahonia and Winter Jasmine will also benefit from a prune. Removing dead flowers allows for the plant to recover and regrow buds for the following year. A general prune and tidy up will also help conserve energy for new growth.

Further tip: Remove the top rosette of leaves from the leggy stems of Mahonia × media cultivars to promote branching.

4. Clean your gardening tools

After several weeks of non-use, cleaning and disinfecting your gardening tools will prevent the spread of disease and prolong their lifespan. 

5. Continue to help wildlife

Spring may be around the corner but February is still a chilly month for our garden birds. High energy foods such as fat balls will help birds conserve their energy as they prepare for their nesting season. Trees and shrubs such as Sorbus, Holly, Crab Apple, and Amelanchier support birds with their tasty fruits, while also providing shelter, nesting sites, and attracting a variety of pollinators to the garden.