As I write this we have had such a lot of rain that I am seriously thinking about building that ark. However, by the time you read this all may have changed. We have not had seriously cold temperatures yet this winter, but I have a feeling that as the east coast of America has been suffering the lowest temperatures in 50 years, bad weather may well be on the way.

It is too easy to get carried away in February and think that spring is just around the corner – it isn’t! I have found that being too eager is a waste of time – wait a few more weeks and plant when the conditions are more favourable and the plants get off to a flying start and soon catch up with the poor struggling specimens that you couldn’t wait to pop in the cold, wet ground. Once February is out of the way everything seems to speed up with bulbs flowering and vegetable seeds to be sown and weeding and tidying in the borders and the lawn needing cutting again. Anyway, enough of what is to come, what to do this month ...

To help with the New Year weight loss, why don’t you turn your compost heap? Empty it onto a tarpaulin and replace it in the compost bin, allowing the air to get to all the decaying matter. If it is too wet and slimy, add shredded paper or cardboard. Make sure you cover it with a lid or a piece of old carpet etc.

If the weather allows, get out in the borders and remove any weeds. Compost the annual weeds but dispose of things like dandelions (perennial weeds that continue growing year on year) in the garden waste collection (they compost at a much higher temperature to kill off any problem seeds). Removing weeds now will make your job so much easier later on in the season before they take hold.

This is the perfect time of year to get to grips with putting stakes in your borders. Hazel or birch is the ideal thing to use for ‘pea sticks’ (not just for peas!) and now is a great time to cut it as the sap rises and it gets a little more pliable, and before the leaves appear.
As always, if you fancy a change in your garden – be it just a replanted border or a complete garden design – do contact me by mobile or email (details below), or visit my website.