Gardening fans must follow ‘divide’ rule for cute spring...

AFTER a long winter with unpredictable weather, February is here and it's already time to get busy in the garden. Hannah Rowson, Garden Centre Manager at bulbs and perennials specialists J. Parker’s, has revealed there are five important gardening jobs to be completed before spring arrives.

Image Credit: The Sun [Snowdrops in bloom.]

And dividing your snowdrops is just the start. By following this simple gardening rule, you can get more of the plants you love for free. Hannah advises: “It is best to divide snowdrops now to help them naturalise over time, leading to more flowers the following year.

Image Credit: The Sun [Hands holding a clump of snowdrops with roots.]

"You can use a shovel or trowel to lift the flowers out of the ground with their roots, then split through the roots to create two clusters. "Plant these halves in your chosen location and watch as they form new colonies in new patches of your garden, creating a beautiful perennial display for years to come.".

February is also an ideal time to get a head start and plant tender perennials like Dahlias and Begonias in pots. “By starting these indoors, you can encourage new growth while waiting for warmer weather to transplant them outdoors in spring,” explains Hannah.

“Make sure to place your tender perennials somewhere safe from frost and with a bit of natural light, such as in a warm, light greenhouse, to promote the growth of new shoots.”. A common question at this time of year is also whether it’s too late to plant spring-flowering bulbs.

And gardening pro Hannah revealed you can still get away with planting bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths by the end of February. She added: "Planting them now will just mean they’ll flower later in the season, but they will still be beautiful when they do!.

“My top tip is to avoid planting them while the ground is still frozen, instead choose a dry, bright day for the best results.”. As well as planting new bulbs, you should be thinking about digging up existing ones to move it to a different spot. Hannah adds: “If you’ve noticed your shrubs aren't getting enough of what they need, this is a good opportunity to move them to an area that they'll prefer.

"For example, if they haven’t got enough sun currently, transplant to where your garden gets the most sunlight in summer.”. Finally, it's time to turn to youe Wisteria which benefits from pruning twice a year. Hannah suggests: “Using sharp tools to shorten the long shoots to around two or three buds from the base.