Gardening tips and advice: February 2026

13 February 2026, by Abbie Jones, Landscape Gardener at Furzey Gardens

At home, February offers a valuable window for careful, unhurried gardening. This is a month for working with the season rather than racing ahead of it – for small actions that will quietly support the year to come.

Crocus on the lawn at Furzey Gardens

Many plants are entering the later stages of dormancy, making February the last chance for a good prune before spring awakens. Roses respond well now, shaping strong frameworks that will carry blooms later in the year. Fruit trees, stripped of leaves, reveal their structure clearly; remove crossing, congested or damaged branches and aim for balance and openness. Rather than heavy cutting, think in terms of refinement – encouraging strength, light and air, and trusting plants to respond in their own way.

If conditions allow, February is a good time to turn your attention to the soil. Gently loosen beds that haven’t yet been worked or are compacted, and incorporate organic matter where needed. A layer of mulch helps retain moisture, protect roots and support the quiet work happening underground.

With all the wet weather we’ve seen so far in 2026, some areas of your garden may feel like they need urgent attention, but patience is key. If possible, avoid overworking saturated soil or treading the same route repeatedly. Letting it settle will do more good in the long run. The roots will thank you for it.

While the garden outdoors rests, seeds can begin their journey under glass. Sweet peas, hardy annuals and early vegetables can be sown in pots or trays on windowsills or in greenhouses. These early sowings feel hopeful – small beginnings made in trust, knowing that growth will come when the time is right.

Here at the nursery, our team are preparing and caring for new seedlings, guiding them through their first stages of growth before they’re ready for our plant sales. This work is more than just gardening – it provides the people we support with confidence, patience, and a real sense of purpose. Each seed sown is a small achievement, a chance to nurture life while developing skills and pride in their efforts.

Daffodil in the sunlight at Furzey Garden

Just like January, February can be a difficult month for wildlife, with little natural food available. Continue feeding birds and providing fresh water, and resist over-tidying. Seed heads, fallen leaves and undisturbed corners offer vital shelter at this time of year.

Here at Furzey, February reveals the garden’s character in subtle ways. Without the fullness of spring and summer, details come into focus.

Snowdrops are at their best now, appearing in gentle drifts rather than formal lines, threading through woodland edges and beneath trees. They catch the low winter light beautifully, offering reassurance that the turning of the year is underway.

Hellebores glow softly in shaded corners, their nodding flowers rewarding those who pause to look more closely. Deep plums, soft greens and dusky pinks bring a richness that feels perfectly suited to this in-between season.

Witch hazel can be quietly spectacular in February. The fine, ribbon-like flowers glow against bare branches, often catching the eye from a distance, and on milder days its delicate fragrance drifts on the air.

Early camellias begin to open too, their glossy evergreen leaves providing structure while buds slowly unfurl into pristine blooms. Seeing those first flowers feels especially special at this time of year, when colour is still precious.

Beyond individual plants, February is about the atmosphere. Mossy ground underfoot, filtered light through bare branches, and the steady presence of evergreens give the garden a calm, intimate feel. It’s a month that invites slower walks and closer looking.

Behind the scenes, our focus is on careful preparation rather than display – shaping, observing, and giving the garden the space and support it needs to respond in its own time.

February is a working month for us at Furzey, and much of that work centres on rejuvenation. Many of the garden’s older shrubs and plants are being pruned back more heavily now – not as an act of reduction, but of renewal.

This kind of pruning takes faith and foresight. It means temporarily stripping things back, trusting that by giving plants space, light and structure now, we’re offering them a new lease of life in the seasons ahead. For long-established plants in particular, this careful rejuvenation is an essential part of protecting Furzey’s future – supporting longevity, health and resilience rather than short-term display.

It may look dramatic in places, but it’s deeply thoughtful work, guided by an understanding of how plants respond over time. What’s being shaped quietly this winter will return stronger, fuller and better balanced in years to come.

We reopen on Saturday 14 February after our short winter break, just in time for half term! Our Guardians of the Garden craft activity and trail is designed for young explorers. From 14 – 22 February children can get creative and then explore in the fresh air whilst enjoying the first signs of spring as they wander through the gardens.

For all visitors, it’s a beautiful time to enjoy the gardens as spring slowly unfurls, a hopeful glimpse of sunnier days ahead. After your walk, stop by the thatched tearooms for a warm drink or tasty treat, our team will be ready and waiting to welcome you. The gardens and tea rooms are open 10am – 4pm, seven days a week.

Camellia unknown at Furzey Gardens

This article originally appeared as the monthly In The Garden column in the Lymington Times, buy the paper on the second Friday of every month to read the next column first.