February Gardening Tips From Barnsdale Gardens

February Gardening Tips From Barnsdale Gardens: Just because February is cold, grey, and damp doesn’t mean the garden is taking a holiday! At Barnsdale Gardens, located in Rutland, the team is still buzzing around like busy bees, digging, planting, and nurturing, even when the weather looks miserable.

The secret to a thriving garden? Good gardening habits all year round. Here’s what the Barnsdale crew recommends tackling this month to get your garden off to a flying start in 2026:

Plant Jerusalem Artichokes

These tubers are a bit like Houdini, they grow underground and can escape and spread like wildfire. The trick? Plant them 15cm (6 inches) deep in pots, two tubers per 10-litre pot. Once the shoots reach around 30cm (12 inches), sink the pots into the ground. Easy to harvest, no runaway artichokes to worry about!

Start Forcing Rhubarb

The moment you spot the tiniest green buds on your rhubarb, it’s time to force it. Forcing simply means keeping light away. A classic forcing jar works, but anything opaque, pots with holes blocked, a dustbin, or even a plastic compost bin will do. The reward? Sweet, tender rhubarb that’s worth every bit of effort.

Prick Out Helleborus Seedlings

Hellebores love a bit of independence and will self-seed happily around the parent plant. Rather than harvesting seeds (which can take 3 years to germinate), the Barnsdale team gently pricks seedlings straight from the soil into trays. Faster, easier, and just as satisfying!

Re-firm Trees and Shrubs

Frosty weather can nudge your newly planted trees and shrubs out of place. Use your heel to gently re-firm the soil around the base and settle them back into position. A little stomp goes a long way!

Prune Climbing Roses

Climbing roses trained along fences and walls were pruned before Christmas, but the arching roses wait until February. Tackle them early, cut out old flowered shoots, remove unwanted stems, and tie in last year’s growth for a gorgeous display this summer.

There’s always something to see and do at Barnsdale Gardens, no matter the month. Grab your gloves, embrace the mud, and make February a month of garden magic!

There’s plenty to see and do all year round at Barnsdale Gardens!

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