Tips for February 2025
January 28, 2025 12:55 pmFor late flowering Clematis in pruning group 3 (such as Viticellas), cut all growth to healthy buds 15-30 cm above soil level.
Prune autumn fruiting raspberry canes down to the ground. Apply a milch of home made compost or farmyard manure (10cm).
Prune Wisteria by cutting back side shoots n and shortening the summer pruned shoots further to just two or three buds.
It is not to late to renovate overgrown deciduous hedges, Beech (Fagus), Hawthorn (Crataegus) and Hornbeam (Carpinus) can be reduced by as much as half in a single cut.
Lift and divide clumps of Snowdrops (Galanthus) and winter Aconites once they finish flowering.
Tidy strawberry plants by removing old, dead, or diseased leaves and any remaining runners.
As new growth starts to emerge remove old stems completely from herbaceous perennials that were left for winter interest.
Start chitting early potatoes. Stand them rose end up in recycled egg boxes (look for small dents or “eyes” in a light frost free place. Rub off any weaker shoots, leaving the strongest four.
Delay turning your compost heap till Spring, because animals such as hedgehogs and grass snakes can be hibernating inside.
Once the flowers have faded., cut back the stems of Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) to the base but keep watering and feeding the plant so that the leaves die down naturally. Keep in a warm spot.