Spring may seem a long way off, but calm, sunny days will bring early daffodils and crocuses into flower to join the snowdrops. Don't be fooled though - February is often the coldest months of the year. Those clear days may bring hard frosts at night. Listen to the weather forecast and protect vulnerable plants. If you want to get some fresh air, why not fork over the soil; between established plants and mulch with one of the range of Westland mulches and soil conditioners. This will help get your soil into good heart.

Essential Jobs
Start to prune roses and clematis

Plant bare-rooted trees, shrubs, roses and hedges

Mulch round established plants

Pick off dying flowers from winter bedding

Start to sow summer bedding in a heated greenhouse

Split overcrowded snowdrops and plant new bulbs

Plant lily bulbs in pots

Start to sow vegetable seeds under cloches and in propagators

Flower Garden
Start to prune clematis. For more help to get you started, read our Quick Guide. Clematis fall into one of three basic categories - early-flowered such as montanas, early large-flowered hybrids and those flowering after midsummer. The ones that need pruning now fall into the last two groups, so check first which varieties you've got. For the last group, the late-flowerers, it's very easy - cut them down to six to eight inches above soil level, cutting just above a bud if you can. Don't prune spring-flowering clematis or you'll get no flowers! After pruning feed with your favourite Westland plant food, either Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone. The early large-flowered varieties are a bit more tricky. You need to cut back healthy stems to just above a strong pair of leaf buds. Don't cut right back or you won't get the early flowers at all. Split clumps of overcrowded snowdrops by digging them up and gently teasing the bulbs apart. Replant in groups of five using a handful of peat or Westland Mulch and Mix in the planting hole.

Continue to plant bare-rooted shrubs, trees and perennials.

Continue to mulch established borders.

Roses
Roses can also be pruned now. Shrub roses don't need much trimming, but you can be quite severe with hybrid teas and florabundas. First cut all dead wood, then cut out crowded or crossing stems. Finally cut back the remaining stems by about half. Aim to cut to just above an outward facing bud and this will help to make the bush grow outwards. After pruning use Westland Pure Rose feed Continue to plant bare-rooted roses

Lawn
If your lawn is a bit soggy, pierce it all over with a garden fork at six-inch intervals to help drainage.

In the Greenhouse
You can make the first sowings in a heated propagator of summer bedding. Those needing an early start include petunias, geraniums, Busy Lizzies and nicotianas. Use one of the Westland seed composts, or multi-purpose composts. Tomatoes can also be sown this month. Towards the end of the month start pelargoniums into growth by watering gently. Once growth starts, cut back the plant and re-pot it into fresh multi-purpose compost. Fuchsias can also be started. Cut them back to about six inches, report into multi-purpose compost then water gently.

Containers
Keep picking off the dead heads from winter pansies and primroses to keep them looking good.

Vegetable Garden
Under cloches you can sow broad beans, early carrots and parsnips. Sow summer cabbages, onions, leeks and peas in a warm propagator.

Herb Garden
Sow small quantities of parsley seed in a seed tray.. It's a good idea to sow parsley every four weeks until autumn. This will ensure a succession of fresh foliage for harvesting. To help the seeds germinate, soak them in warm water for several hours, then dry before sowing in your favourite Westland Seed Compost.

Fruit Garden
Continue to plant bare-rooted fruit trees. If your fruit trees have had a lot of problems with pests and diseases it's worth trying a spray of tar oil winter wash over the trunk and branches. Always follow the instructions carefully and be sure not to spray on a windy day.

Water Features
Cut back in decaying plants and remove dead leaves from your pond if you didn't do it in the autumn.

Alpines
If frost has lifted your alpines firm them back into the soil or replant if necessary. Dress round the plants with Westland lime-free coarse grit.