Prepare your Beds
If you have flower beds or veg patches in the borders of your garden, you can help improve soil condition by adding a layer of compost or well-rotted manure and forking it into the surface. Then add a layer of garden fleece or polythene to add warmth to the soil ready for sowing outdoors in the coming weeks.
Cut Ornamental Grasses
They will have provided an attractive feature over the winter months but before the new growth gets out of hand February is the time to trim old foliage to make way for the new shoots. With evergreen species you’ll just need to remove the dead leaves by hand, with deciduous varieties you’ll need a pair of secateurs to cut back the old stems as low to the ground as possible avoiding any new shoots.
Trim Climbers
Before birds start nesting in spring, you’ll want to make sure you have trimmed any climbers that they may use to make a base such as ivy, Virginia creeper or wisteria.
Care for the Birds
Clean out bird feeders and bird baths to support the health of your garden's wildlife. Many natural food sources start running low towards the end of winter so feeding the garden birds is important at this time of year. Consider putting up a bird box making sure it is at least 1 to 3 metres off the ground, out of high winds and direct sunlight, and somewhere tricky for cats to reach.