10 February Gardening Tasks to Get Ready for Spring
Spring is almost here, but not quite yet. This planning period is the ideal time to ready your garden for the upcoming season. Gardening expert Madison Moulton lists 10 February gardening tasks to tackle this month.
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As someone who loves to plan and create to-do lists, preparing the garden for spring is almost as exciting to me as the arrival of spring itself. February is a great time to create a clean slate, providing a fresh start to fulfill all your spring and summer garden dreams. The jobs may not be the most exciting, but the payoff is worth it in the end.
To ready your garden for spring, make sure you tick off these 10 February gardening tasks. Some will depend on climate and your zone, so check your frost and snow forecasts before you start.
Clean Up Beds
Most of your activity in the garden in early spring will likely center around planting. For that to work, you need to make sure you’ve cleared enough space to plant. That’s why the first February gardening task on the list is cleaning up your beds. This also limits the potential spread of disease as the weather warms, protecting all your new plants.
Garden debris builds up in beds over winter. It may be remnants of last season’s plantings, the protective layer of mulch you applied early in the season, or fallen leaves from trees you left to help the wildlife in your garden. As the temperatures start to rise, these layers need to be cleared away to make space for a new round of spring planting.
Grab your garden gloves and start clearing, adding any debris without signs of disease to your compost pile. If you notice mold or spots on any of the leaves or stems, discard them to prevent the spread of the problem around your spring garden.
Amend the Soil
Once your beds are cleared, you’ll have full access to the soil, and now is the perfect time to amend it. Good soil creates the right foundation for a successful spring garden, and it’s far easier to prepare before you start planting than once your plants are established.
The best way to start is with a soil test. This will tell you if any nutrient deficiencies or pH issues need to be resolved, depending on what you’re planting. It takes time to improve soil, so the sooner you start, the better.
If you’re not doing a soil test, you should still improve your soil by mixing in or topdressing with plenty of compost. Mix in some slow-release balanced fertilizer around your existing perennials and in beds if you live in a warmer zone and plan on planting soon.
Repair Hardscaping
Since there isn’t much planting happening, February is a good time to look at your garden hardscaping. You can also do this in early winter, but extreme weather conditions can cause damage that will need to be repaired now anyway. Plus, a thorough clean now will ensure your garden sparkles when spring arrives.
Start by checking your fencing, walls, paths, sheds, decking, and so on for any signs of damage. Complete the fixes now before planting begins—your young and vulnerable new plants will be less at risk this way. Give everything a clean, including any garden furniture like benches or outdoor tables. Now is also a great time to add new features if you’re feeling creative.
Sharpen Tools
Tool care is a chore few people get excited about. Unfortunately, it’s an essential one for a reason. High-quality tools are designed to last a long time, but they can only do that if they are properly cared for. Sharp and clean tools also limit damage to your plants and prevent the spread of diseases.
If you’ve skipped this task on your early winter checklist, make sure you add it to your February gardening tasks before spring arrives. Sharpen all shears and mower blades and clean and oil any tools that look like they need attention.
Prune
Speaking of shears, now may be a good time to bring them out, depending on what you’re growing in the garden. For plants that require early spring pruning, gardeners in colder zones may want to wait a little while longer. But there is still plenty to trim in February.
Let’s start with what not to do. Avoid pruning any shrubs that bloom on old wood (like azaleas or some hydrangea species). Pruning now will remove all the flower buds for this season. Also avoid trimming sensitive plants if heavy frost or snow is in the forecast, as this could expose them to more damage.
The shrubs prime for pruning in February, depending on your climate, include roses, butterfly bushes, and other summer flowering species that bloom on new wood. You can also trim hedges like boxwoods now to bring some structure to the garden. If you haven’t pruned your fruit trees yet, consider adding that to your February gardening tasks too.
Place Supports
Take a look at your spring garden plan. Do you have any climbing vines or tall thin-stemmed plants that need support? If so, February is a great time to install them. Installing supports after planting can damage young fragile roots, so it’s best to place supports before any planting happens.
Decide on your planting location for climbing plants (cucumbers, indeterminate tomatoes, and so on), taking sun and wind into account. Bury your trellises, cages, or a-frame supports and ensure they are sturdy. When spring arrives, your beds will be fully prepped for planting.
Prepare Covers
For many gardeners across the US, February is still chilly, and very little planting is planned. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for when that time does come.
Early spring weather is unpredictable. That’s why it’s important to have protective covers on hand to shelter your young seedlings from sudden cold snaps. Take time in February to prepare row covers or cloches that can be easily placed over your seedlings at transplanting time.
Sow Indoors
It may be too cold for most gardeners to direct sow outdoors, but you can still get a head start by sowing seeds indoors. This February gardening task scratches that planting itch without any risk to your seedlings. With the right gadgets, they’ll likely have a stronger start than if they were sown outdoors.
To make indoor sowing a breeze, you’ll need a seedling heat mat and grow lights. Warmth from below and light from directly above will provide the ideal environment for germination. For ideas on what to sow based on your zone this month, you can look at our guide here.
Divide and Transplant
For those in zones 8 and above, another February gardening task to check off is dividing and transplanting. This could be for propagation purposes or to improve the health of your overcrowded plants.
Take a walk around your garden and look out for any perennials or shrubs that aren’t performing as well as they used to. A tell-tale sign is a gap of dense or dying growth directly in the center of the plant. If they typically bloom in late summer or fall, now is a good time to pull and divide them.
Use a spade to dig up the entire root boot, leaving as many roots intact as possible. Pull the roots apart into two sections with your hands, or use a knife if they’re tough. The technique will depend on what you’re growing. Replant each division into prepared soil with the correct spacing.
February is also a good time to transplant any shrubs you want to move to a new location. They may not grow as well this year, as they need time to adjust to their new spots, so don’t panic if growth is slow after moving.
Mulch
The final February gardening task on the list is one I typically add to almost all my checklists. Yes, it is that important.
Make sure you apply a few inches of organic mulch around your established plants to regulate soil temperature and improve soil structure and health. A layer of mulch on exposed beds can also improve soil temperature for later germination, and block light from any potential weed seeds that may be thinking about germinating soon. This task is not one you want to skip.
