In the garden, February seems like a turning point, even if it’s still freezing outdoors, you will see signs of springtime all around you.

The days are finally growing longer, and bulbs are gradually poking their heads above the ground.

The main focus of this month’s gardening tasks is preparing the garden for spring. However, if you want to get a head start, there are also some early sowing and growing tasks to complete.

Use February to get yourself properly prepared for springtime. The following jobs will set you up for your best growing season yet:

Prepare your seed beds, as long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can cultivate beds and start to warm up the soil, with fleece, polythene or cloches, in preparation for sowing in the coming months.

Take this time to make sure your tools are in top order and your garden machinery is working, treat machinery to a service. Giving your tools and equipment the once over and apply a little TLC to anything that needs it will help to get through the upcoming seasons.

While you’re at it, tidy your shed or workshop, doing this ahead of the imminent planting & sowing season, you’ll thank yourself for a clean & tidy space later.

Blitz perennial weeds in your beds and kitchen garden. Dig them up, roots and all, to get a head start on the blighters before the weather warms up.

Organise this year’s seeds by sowing date. Use a box with dividers, and file your seed packets by the month they need to be sown in, this will help in the weeks to come.