This is the FEBRUARY installment of HortWeek's month-by-month guide to essential maintenance and management tasks for parks, gardens and grounds maintenance staff.
Office
- Continue planning Easter events
- Update staff training records and research local courses
- Order fertiliser and pesticides
General
- Try to keep off wet ground as much as possible to avoid causing compaction
- Check all machines are serviced and ready for work
- Sharpen all tools that cut, including hoes
- Clean tools and equipment with pressure washer when necessary
- Clean pathways, paved terraces and steps for public safety
Trees, shrubs and hedges
- Inspect for wind damage and check ties and stakes
- Continue planting bare-root deciduous trees and shrubs, including roses providing the soil is not frozen or too wet
- Continue pruning trees and shrubs to improve shape and health
- Hardy shrubs, like Buddleja davidii, that flower on new wood in the summer, can be cut down to encourage new growth
- Hardy evergreens, such as Prunus laurocerasus, can be pruned now but leave the more tender ones well alone for the time being
- Trim winter-flowering heathers
- Brush snow off hedges
- Prune overgrown or misshapen hedges
Beds and borders
- Dig over when conditions allow
- Feed herbaceous plants with an organic-based fertiliser
- Check stakes and ties
- Pot up dahlia tubers
- Divide snowdrops
- Deadhead winter pansies
Wall plants
- Prune late-flowering clematis towards the end of the month
- Prune jasmine
- Plant new climbers
Bulbs
- Check stores
- Containers
- Plan for summer containers and sow annuals indoors as required
- Top dress potted shrubs
Greenhouses and conservatories
- Check for panes loosened by gales
- Ventilate on mild days
- At end of month, prune tender perennials such as fuchsias that are overwintering
- Sow hardy annuals or order plug plants
*Jobs should only be undertaken when ground and weather conditions are suitable and will vary according to location and may vary significantly from year to year. And remember that while the year nicely divides into 12 months, activities often overlap.
