In the garden with Ian Holland
Right now I'm in a fighting mood because I've been cutting back my roses. They've run rampant during the past few weeks. Roses will continue to flower if you remove dead-heads and lightly prune them over now. Cut back about 20% of each plant. Following this, apply some rose food to encourage the next flush of flowers. Regular dead-heading of annuals encourages further flowering. Just remember to wear protective clothing or you may end up with badly scratched hands, arms and legs.Propagating is always fun. February is a good time to take semi-hardwood cuttings from many familiar exotic shrubs, like Orange Jessamine, Rosemary and May Bush. Semi-hardwood cuttings tend to take some time to strike so use a propagating hormone and bottom heat to encourage root development. And this month is a good time to grow new fuchsia plants using softwood cuttings. Take your cuttings by clearly cutting below the second pair of leaves. Place the cuttings in a rooting mix. The cuttings should be kept moist by covering them with a plastic bag and keep them out of direct sunlight. They should be ready for potting, with good roots, after six weeks or so.
Around now your rhododendrons and camellias should be starting to bud. Success really depends upon the plants receiving enough water at this time of the year, as the buds start to form. Use a wetting solution in the soil around the base of the plants to ensure that water reaches the roots.
I know I'm always harping on about mulching, but by now the spring mulch you applied may be becoming thin. Apply more now if you can and mix in some fertilizer that will leach through the mulch at a steady rate and give new life to your garden without encouraging weeds.
Now is a good time to prepare your vegetable bed for winter, digging the soil over and adding compost and complete fertilizer, together with lime and gypsum as necessary. If you're growing heavy feeders like cabbage or Brussels sprouts, add organic materials such as home-made compost to provide the necessary nutrients.
Plant vegetable seedlings in February. Things like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beetroot, cauliflower, leeks and spinach. Young plants should be kept well watered, so use a wetting solution to ensure that water is absorbed by the soil. Create a shallow drill on either side of the seedlings and flood it so water soaks into the soil.
Do enjoy your February garden and remember to slip, slop and slap and wear a hat.
