FEBRUARY IN THE FLOWER GARDEN

ACTION NOW

SOW AND PLANT

IN FLOWER NOW

Start off dahlia tubers	Ageratum	Camellias come into flower late this month, and may need protection (cover with polythene) against severe frost. Other flowering shrubs include Daphnes and Mahonia japonica - not forgetting Mahonia x 'Charity', a GardenAction favourite. Snowdrops will continue through February, and other winter flowering bulbs such as Irises (histrioides and danfordiae) make an appearance. Crocuses of many varieties will be at their peak. A slightly unusual plant in flower this month is the deciduous wall covering shrub Abeliophyllum Distichum - during the month it will display star-shaped blue-pink flowers on bare stems.

	Allysum

Take indoor chrysanthemum cuttings	Begonias (fibrous rooted)

	Busy Lizzies (impatiens)

Prune deciduous shrubs	Carnations & Pinks (dianthus)

	Plant lillies

Start dahlia tubers into life either indoors or in a heated greenhouse. Plant the tubers in moist compost so that the tops of the tuber are covered, but the stem is above the compost. As soon as new shoots appear, place the plants in a light place. For more details on dahlias, click here.

Choose healthy looking young shoots around 5cm (2in) long. Cut them from the plant with a sharp knife and trim off the lowest pair of leaves. Trim the cutting stem to just below the joint where the leaves were attached. Dip the cutting in hormone rooting powder and place the cutting in a small pot full of moist potting compost. Label the cutting and place in a propagator or cover with a polythene bag ensuring it is not touching the cutting. Place in a light area at a temperature of around 16C (60F).

In general, vigorous deciduous shrubs which flower on this year's growth (e.g. Buddleia, hardy fuchsia) should be pruned by a third in autumn or spring. Deciduous shrubs which flower on last year's growth (e.g. cytisus, forsythia) should be pruned immediately after flowering.