This February, focus on key outdoor tasks to prepare for the months ahead: install nesting boxes to support wildlife, tackle seasonal tasks to maintain your outdoor space, feed trees and shrubs for healthy growth, plant trees to establish strong roots, shape hedges to encourage dense growth, and assess any winter damage. These steps will set your outdoor space up for success through the winter and into spring.
1. Nesting Boxes for Wildlife Support
Encouraging birds to settle in your outdoor space by installing nesting boxes provides a safe place for them to roost and raise their young. This simple addition supports local wildlife and offers natural pest control, helping to maintain a balanced and thriving environment in your outdoor space.
How to Install Nesting Boxes:
Choose the Right Location: Position nesting boxes in a sheltered spot, away from prevailing winds and direct sunlight, to provide a comfortable and secure environment.
Pick the Right Size: Different bird species prefer different box sizes, so consider the types of birds in your area and select accordingly.
Maintain Regularly: Clean out old nesting materials at the end of the season to prevent parasites and ensure the box is ready for new inhabitants.
Why Install Nesting Boxes?
Wildlife Conservation: Providing a nesting site helps bird populations thrive, offering them a safe environment to raise their young.
Natural Pest Control: Birds such as blue tits and robins feed on garden pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
Enjoyment and Education: Watching birds in your outdoor space can be a rewarding experience and a great way to connect with nature.
2. Seasonal Tasks
Keeping your outdoor space in shape is key to ensuring it’s ready for spring. Now is the time to clear paths of moss and debris while preparing seedbeds for early sowings. Tackling these tasks now will help create a healthy and tidy environment for the months ahead.
How to Clean Paths & Patios:
Clear Paths and Patios: Remove moss, algae, and debris to prevent slippery surfaces and enhance the appearance of your outdoor space. Check out our hand tools collection to help you get started.
Prepare Seedbeds: Remove weeds and enrich the soil with organic matter to create the perfect conditions for planting.
Use Cloches: Cover seedbeds to help warm the soil, encouraging early growth.
Why Clean Regularly?
Prevents Hazards: Clearing paths reduces the risk of slips and falls.
Encourages Growth: Well-prepared soil leads to stronger, healthier plants.
Improves Longevity: Regular upkeep helps maintain hard landscaping and soil fertility.
3. Feeding Trees & Shrubs
Give your trees and shrubs a boost by applying a slow-release fertiliser. Providing essential nutrients at this time of year supports healthy growth, strengthens roots, and encourages vibrant foliage and blooms in the months ahead.
How to Feed Trees & Shrubs:
Choose the Right Fertiliser: Select a slow-release fertiliser suited to your plant types, ensuring a steady supply of nutrients over time.
Apply Evenly: Spread fertiliser around the base of trees and shrubs, avoiding direct contact with trunks or stems.
Water Thoroughly: After applying fertiliser, water well to help nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the roots effectively.
Why Feed Now?
Boosts Root Strength: Feeding at this stage supports strong root development ahead of the growing season.
Encourages Healthy Growth: Nutrient-rich soil helps trees and shrubs thrive with strong, vibrant foliage.
Prepares for Spring: Early feeding ensures plants have the nutrients they need for a strong start when temperatures rise.
4. Planting Trees
Now is a great time to plant trees, allowing them to establish strong roots before the growing season begins. Choosing the right tree species and planting them properly ensures healthy, long-term growth.
How to Prepare for Planting:
Select the Right Spot: Choose a location with enough space for roots to spread and adequate sunlight.
Prepare the Soil: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and enrich the soil with organic matter.
Water and Support: Provide regular watering and use stakes if necessary to support young trees.
Why Prepare Now?
Strong Root Development: Cooler temperatures encourage root establishment without the stress of summer heat.
Early Growth Boost: Trees have a head start before the active growing season.
Adds Structure: Planting trees now enhances the landscape and adds seasonal interest.
5. Shaping Hedges
Lightly trimming hedges now helps maintain their shape and encourages dense, healthy growth. Regular shaping keeps them looking tidy and supports their long-term development.
How to Shape Hedges:
Use Sharp Tools: Ensure clean cuts by using sharp, well-maintained shears, hedge trimmers, or a reliable pair of secateurs. Explore our secateurs for precise and easy hedge trimming.
Trim Lightly: Focus on gentle shaping to remove straggly growth while maintaining the hedge’s natural form.
Tidy Up Base: Clear away trimmings and debris to prevent pests and diseases from settling in.
Why Shape Now?
Encourages Dense Growth: Light trimming promotes bushier, more compact hedges.
Prevents Overgrowth: Regular maintenance stops hedges from becoming unruly and difficult to manage.
Enhances Appearance: Keeping hedges in shape improves the overall look of your outdoor space.
6. Assessing Damage
Inspecting trees and shrubs for signs of winter damage helps maintain their health and encourages strong regrowth. Addressing issues early ensures plants can recover and thrive in the growing season ahead.
How to Assess Damage:
Check for Broken Branches: Look for snapped or damaged branches and remove them to prevent further stress.
Inspect for Weather Stress: Examine plants for signs of frost damage, such as discoloured or wilted leaves.
Prune Affected Areas: Use clean, sharp tools to trim damaged parts, allowing healthy new growth to emerge.
Why Inspect Now?
Prevents Further Damage: Removing weak or broken branches reduces the risk of disease and pests.
Encourages Healthy Growth: Pruning helps plants focus their energy on producing new, strong shoots.
Improves Plant Safety: Addressing damage early prevents falling branches and potential hazards in your outdoor space.
As we move from February into March, the anticipation of spring begins to stir in the garden. With longer days and milder temperatures on the horizon, now is the perfect time to take stock of your outdoor space and ensure everything is in top shape for the growing season. Focus on tidying paths and patios, feeding trees and shrubs, and giving hedges a final shape to encourage healthy growth. Assessing any winter damage and preparing seedbeds will help create the ideal conditions for successful planting in the months ahead. Stay tuned for our next guide, where we’ll share practical tips to help you embrace the new season and get your outdoor space ready for spring’s arrival.
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