These “Gardening Suggestions for February” have been prepared by Isla McNeil.

Cutting back some of your perennial plants from last year, that would naturally go mushy in the cold weather, so not to attract slugs and snails. E.g.  Hosta’s and Peonies.

Cutting back the dead and diseased leaves on Hellebores to encourage new leaves, expose the wonderful flowers and prevent black spot spores affecting new growth.

Starting flowers and vegetables from seeds in the greenhouse ready for when the ground warms up in Spring and early Summer. Ideal rainy-day job.

Splitting Spring flowering plants like Primroses and Snowdrops, while they are in the green, to get some more free plants.

Cut back Wisteria side shoots to three buds from the base to encourage flowers in spring.

If you can’t wait until Spring for a colour hit, plant up a colourful Spring pot. Some plants you can use amongst a few are, Primulas, Hellebores, small Evergreen Grasses, variegated Ivy, Skimmia, Japonica and Winter Cyclamen.

Also use pots of already started bulbs, Narcissi, Iris Reticulata etc. and you will find a good selection at your local garden centre or nursery.

Remember, Spring is just around the corner with colour and brighter things to come.