February is one month in the year that can prove to be very difficult for gardeners to really get to grips with.
On the one hand, winter should be on its way out at some point soon – but on the other, the climate conditions can still be wildly harsh and unpredictable. Partly as a result of this, there is plenty of work to be getting on with outdoors – for green-fingered enthusiasts and professional gardeners alike.
Pruning should be top of the list – and this is particularly the case for winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering. Evergreen hedges, overgrown deciduous hedges and conservatory climbers will also need seeing to.
This activity is very important at this time of year, as it helps to protect the plants from diseases. So it is not just all about keeping them looking presentable – although this should be a priority in itself!
Gardeners who wish to prune climbers and larger plants like trees in particular would do well to think about investing in a set of tree pruners. We offer a wide range of these tools here at MowDIRECT.
The Ryobi RPP-720 Electric Pole-Pruner is the cheapest model we stock – being currently available for £115. With an eight-inch bar set at an angle of 15 degrees, cutting branches is made a much simpler and safer task. A powerful 720 Watt motor will produce a chain speed of 15 meters per second, ensuring efficiency.
If cost is not an issue, then the STIHL HT131 Long Reach Pole Pruner could be worth a look. This premium machine is really ideal for professional gardeners and tree surgeons – and indeed, it was designed with such individuals in mind. It really is incomparable for the most demanding of tasks and is available at MowDIRECT for £739 – a considerable saving on the RRP of £816. Click here to have a look for yourself.
In an article for the Guardian, professional garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson said: "Summer-flowering shrubs such as romneya, buddleia, perovskia and caryopteris should be pruned back now to a structural framework from which they can throw strong new limbs. Flowers will be better for it."
Soil protection should also be right at the top of the to-do list in February. Mr Pearson advised clearing any winter damage from borders prior to doing this.
He went on to specify that the skeletons of perennials that survived the battering of the worst of winter should be saved – and the others will need to be tidied away.
"Clearing where bulbs are going to come through should also be a priority," he commented, adding: "If you are going to mulch, do this before the bulbs come so that they can break through the surface and not be disturbed. Take advantage of warm, dry weather and never mulch if there is frost in the ground, as it will be trapped there and slow the ground warming as spring approaches."
In order to create mulch – why not recycle old garden waste? This could be an excellent use of those perennials that did not make it. Here at MowDIRECT, we offer a range of chippers and shredders that are perfect for this task.
