As we approach the end of winter, Britons will need to become more active in their gardens.
GB News has shared five jobs that are good to do in February to set your lawn up for the rest of the year.
Lawn care specialist working for Online Turf Chrissie Handley told GB News: “February is technically the last ‘winter’ month, so, now that your garden has rested over the winter, you’re going to want to get in the mindset of preparing your lawn for the slightly warmer temperatures of March and incoming spring.”
He suggested focusing on clearing, feeding, mowing, planting and finishing any odd jobs.
Gardeners should clear the lawns and consider mowing it for the first time this year
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Clearing
Before you can do anything to your lawn, it must be clear of any debris that has fallen since you’ve last been outside. Don’t forget to clear any weeds away too.
Chrissie said: “You should first clear the lawn and garden of any debris like leaves and twigs. Also, aerate to encourage improved drainage and airflow.
“You can remove any weeds by hand or use chemical or DIY weed killers like boiling water, vinegar and lemon juice. The DIY solutions may need re-applying to fully eradicate the weed.”
Feeding
Grass grows more slowly during the winter months so it could be worth using a feeder to give your garden a boost before spring.
The expert explained: “You can feed your lawn and vegetable or flower patches in February to get them ready for when the weather starts to get warmer.
“Late winter and early spring is the perfect time to fertilise, as it can give your soil a boost before anything starts actively growing again following winter dormancy.
“A feed that is high in nitrogen will give your plants a stable and nutrient-rich base ready for the growing season of later spring and early summer. Nitrogen will also help green up your grass blades.”
Mowing
Once these jobs are done, and as the month goes on, it could be worth mowing the lawn for the first time this year. Chrissie said: “When the lawn is dry and clear, you should mow it in late February on a high mower setting.
“Avoid cutting the grass too short and scalping it, as this can cause patches and damage. As the weather continues to improve, the lawn should start to grow quicker, and you can gradually reduce the mower height with every cut.”
Planting
Vegetables, sweet peas and pansies are among the best seeds to sow at this time of the year. Chrissie explained: “You should research which plants thrive best when planted in February, ready for spring blossoming. This way, you can get ahead of the game and make sure your bulbs are planted and stable ready for blooming as soon as the weather warms up.
“You can do indoor seed starters, ready to move them outside when the weather warms up.
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It can also be worth planting at this time of year
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“Egg carton starters are a popular DIY method with herbs like dill, parsley or basil being good herbs to start indoors, or pansies and petunias being good floral starters.”
Finishing touches
Other tasks to consider now involve getting on top of any odd jobs such as looking at your equipment and planning for the year ahead.
Chrissie continued: “You can also give your garden tools or mower a refresh to make sure they’re in tip-top condition after sitting dormant over winter.
“You can use a stiff brush to clean any grass or soil off the mower deck/blades or sharpen the blades on any of your garden tools.
“It’s also always handy to check long-range weather forecasts to see when it’s due to warm up this year, sometimes we expect March/April to be warmer, but a longer winter can surprise you.”
