- Prune late-summer-flowering shrubs and climbers hard.
- Cut back ornamental grasses and old perennial stems before new growth.
- Prune bush roses towards the end of the month in mild areas.
- Sow tomatoes, chillies and slow annuals under cover with heat.
- Finish planting bare-root trees, hedges and fruit.
Spotlight: pruning roses without fear
Most bush and shrub roses flower on this year's shoots, so late-winter pruning doesn't cost flowers — it encourages strong new stems that carry them. The right moment is when buds are swelling but before leaves open: late February in the south, March further north.
Start with the three Ds: cut out anything dead, damaged or diseased, back to healthy white-centred wood. Then remove thin, twiggy stems and any that cross through the middle, aiming for an open, goblet-shaped framework of three to six strong stems. Shorten those by about a third to a half for shrub roses, harder for hybrid teas, cutting just above an outward-facing bud with a clean, slightly sloping cut.
Don't prune rambling roses now: they flower on last year's growth and are thinned out after flowering in summer. Climbing roses keep their main framework; only the side shoots are shortened to two or three buds. Finish with a rose feed and a mulch, keeping the mulch a hand's width away from the stems. If you're unsure which type you have, Talea's rose guide helps identify it from the plant's habit and flowering.
Jobs this month
Pruning for summer flowers
Shrubs and climbers that flower on this year's growth are cut back now so they produce plenty of new shoots. The rule: if it flowers after midsummer, it can be pruned in late winter.
Tidying borders
Seed heads and stems left for winter structure and wildlife can now be cleared, before new shoots appear and get damaged in the process.
First sowings under cover
With warmth and good light, February sowings of slow crops give strong plants by May. Without a heated propagator and a bright spot, wait a month — late, sturdy seedlings beat early, leggy ones.
Planting and soil preparation
Bare-root plants need to be in before their buds break. Beds for vegetables can be prepared as soon as the soil is dry enough not to stick to your boots.
Sow and plant
- Tomatoes, chillies and peppers (with heat)
- Sweet peas and snapdragons under cover
- Broad beans and early peas under cloches in mild areas
- Onions and shallots from seed
- Bare-root roses, hedging and fruit
- Garlic cloves
- Shallot sets in mild areas
- Snowdrops 'in the green' after flowering
Watch out for
Questions
When should I prune roses?
Bush and shrub roses from late February to mid-March, when buds are swelling but before leaves open. Rambling roses are pruned after flowering in summer instead.
Is it too late to prune apple trees?
No, winter pruning can continue until the buds start to open. After that, wait until summer for any further cuts.
Can I sow tomatoes in February?
Only with a heated propagator and very good light, and only if they'll go into a greenhouse. For outdoor tomatoes, sowing in March or early April gives sturdier plants.