February

Lawns: If wormcasts are a nuisance, scatter them on dry days with a birch broom.

Shrubs: Rooted suckers may be severed and planted out. Shrubs for patios may be planted in their containers.

Hedges: Cut back badly overgrown or leggy hedges to near ground level to encourage new bushy growth.

Roses: Annual pruning can be carried out in mild or sheltered areas.

Perennials: Remove any dead stems before the young shoots begin to grow, fork over the soil between plants.

Annuals: Complete digging and manuring sites for sowing annuals and biennials.

Lightly fork over ground dug in autumn, and work in a general fertiliser if the soil was not manured. Sow half hard annuals in a cold frame or greenhouse late in the month. Firm any biennials loosened by frost, and lightly fork round them if the soil is not sticky. Dress with general fertiliser.

Lilies: Finishing potting and planting lilies.

Irises: Planted for cut flowers can be covered with cloches, if necessary prop the cloches up on bricks or wood blocks; ventilate on sunny days.

Rock Plants: Sprinkle slug pellets among rock plants.

Fruit: Complete pruning of established fruit trees.

In the potting shed: Jobs which have been put off in the past can be tackled now.

A wet day is a good opportunity to sort through the potting shed to have everything in place and ready for the new season. Now is the time to service the lawn mower and oil and sharpen tools. Indoor order supplies such a weed killer, spray fertilizers, seeds and potting compost for spring use.

Planning ahead: freezing temperatures, biting winds sleet and snow will deter even the most committed gardeners from venturing out; these are times to retreat indoors, to seek inspiration for the months ahead from gardening books and catalogues. Now is the moment to plan changes and indulge new ideas.