What to do in your garden during February

In winter rainfall regions do the following the garden.

Plant & Sow

Annuals

Sow all summer flowering annuals:

Perennials

Iceberg roses – a constant bloomer and vigorous grower. Icebergs are ideal for mass plantings or containers. Gardenias – known as one of the most fragrant shade-loving plants. They have attractive evergreen glossy foliage that grows into a neat round bush. These beautiful plants love growing in well-drained, acid soil.

Vegetables

Sow vegetables like:

Garden maintenance

Fertilize

Fertilize fruit trees like apples, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums and quinces.

• Fertilize Summer-flowering bulbs and keep them moist.
• Fertilize annuals and bedding plants with a liquid fertilizer every 14 days.

General garden maintenance

• Mow the lawn if necessary.
• Water plants properly, giving them a thorough soaking every three or four days to encourage deep root development. Mulch well with organic material
  • Red spiders can be troublesome in hot, dry weather. Spray to prevent infestation.
  • Spray apples, pears and quinces against codling moth; and apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums against fruit fly. Spray grapes for mildew where necessary.
  • Deadhead roses regularly and water two or three times weekly.
  • Mulch the garden beds.
  • Remember to deadhead annuals and bedding plants regularly and feed every 2 weeks or so with a diluted liquid fertilizer
  • Continue to remove weeds from lawns and pavings.
  • Deadhead summer-flowering annuals and continue feeding with a fertilizer high in potassium to prolong the flowering period.
  • Lift and divide spring-flowering irises.
  • Keep all perennials well watered and feed with all Purpose Fertilizer.
  • Water plants originally from summer rainfall regions well. Remember to water the garden early in the morning and preferably on wind-free days.
  • Feed flowering shrubs once a month.
  • Feed your hydrangeas.
  • Plant nerine bulbs
  • Keep an eye out for red spider mite as they love the hot, dry conditions.

For February maintenance tips on watering, pruning, pests and disease, fertilizing and much more visit our countrywide maintenance guide.