February in the Herb Garden - Jobs to do

Herb Garden Jobs for February

Ah, February. The wind still bites a little, the ground is often (or make that mostly) sodden, and the mornings are frosty enough to make your fingers ache. But for those of us who love herbs, it’s not a month to sit inside with a cuppa (though we do that too) — it’s a month for quietly preparing, planning, and getting our gardens ready for the growing year ahead.

Here’s what we like to get done in the herb garden this month:

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1. Planning and Preparation

This is the time to sit with a notebook, a pencil, and a mug of something warm, and dream a little. Decide which herbs you want to grow this year — whether it’s rosemary and thyme for the kitchen, or a bit of lemon balm and basil for summer teas. Think about where they’ll go, what likes company, and what likes a bit of space to itself.

While you’re at it, order seeds, compost, pots, and labels so you’re ready for a proper spring sowing. And don’t forget to tidy your beds — pull out last year’s dead leaves and weeds. Your soil will thank you.

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2. Propagation and Early Sowing

Even with frost still around, some herbs can get a head start indoors or under cover:

• Tender annuals like basil or summer savory can be sown in little trays on a sunny windowsill.

• Hardy perennials like thyme, sage, and oregano can be started from seed or cuttings indoors.

It feels like a tiny bit of spring in the middle of winter when those first green shoots appear.

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3. Maintenance

Now is a gentle month for pruning. Cut back dead or damaged growth on woody herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and lavender — but avoid anything too drastic if the frost is still heavy.

Mulching is a lifesaver in February. Spread a layer of leaf mould, straw, or compost around your perennials such as Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary to protect their roots from the worst of the winter damp.

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4. Soil and Fertility

If your beds are accessible, give the soil a little boost. Spread some well-rotted compost or organic fertilizer over the herb beds so it has time to settle before spring planting. While you’re at it, test the soil pH if you’ve got herbs with particular preferences — rosemary and lavender, for example, like it a touch on the alkaline side.

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5. Indoor and Container Herbs

For herbs in pots indoors, check they haven’t become root-bound over winter and give them fresh compost if needed. Make sure they’re getting enough light — south-facing windows or a gentle grow light works wonders. And remember: they’re still resting, so don’t overwater.

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6. Other Little Jobs

• Harvest hardy herbs sparingly: parsley, thyme, and rosemary can be clipped for fresh use.

• Sort and clean last year’s seeds if you’ve saved any.

• Sharpen secateurs and clean your tools — a little care now saves headaches later.

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Tip from the garden: February is slow, quiet work. It’s not about big growth yet, it’s about giving your herbs the best possible start. Think of it as setting the stage for spring. Every bit of planning, pruning, and tidying now pays off when the sun finally warms the Brecon Beacons, and your garden bursts bac