Getting ready for spring
FEBRUARY can be a challenging month. From a birding point of view, the excitement of the new year list in January can already seem far away, and the proper arrival of spring a similarly distant dream. Weather-wise, on fine days it feels like winter is starting to lose its grip, but on days when easterly blasts bring ice and snow, it can seem as though there are still weeks of cold left to endure – which there often are!
It can be the same from a gardening perspective, although the good news is there is light at the end of the tunnel. Many people struggle with January and February in terms of their mental health, but I always encourage anyone finding it hard to find hope to go into their garden, or indeed anywhere in nature, and look that bit harder at the seemingly bleak landscape. Scrape away the snow, frost or leaf litter and see the spring bulbs poking their heads up, or in some cases already in flower (think Snowdrops and early Daffodil varieties). Some trees will be flowering, such as Hazel and early cherry cultivars.
It’s too late for this year to plant spring bulbs now, but you can at least see what’s missing in your garden and plan for what you’ll add in time for next year. If you already have early spring bulbs, such as Snowdrops, now is a good time to lift and divide them, so you can spread them around your garden. It’s not too late to plant hedging and trees, so if you do feel that’s something you’re lacking in your garden then see if you have space to squeeze in a nice Wild Cherry ( Prunus avium) or something similar. If you’re planning on planting a tree, do try and consider what can offer the most in terms of wildlife value. For example, some popular cherry varieties have been cultivated to produce big, blousy double flowers which, while they might look impressive, are essentially useless for pollinating insects as it makes it impossible for them to find their way inside the layers of petals.
It’s also the time to think about pruning shrubs and trees in your garden before the new growing season begins. If you haven’t already, prune apple trees to promote a good crop this year. Roses, too, can be tackled at this time, though don’t stress too much about the wrong or right way to prune them – just cut them back to strong buds lower down the main stems and remove any dead or really old ones altogether.
Another thing to think about at this time of year is nestboxes for birds. If you’re short on space, a tit box takes no time at all to knock together and can be hung on any wall or fence (though preferably away from strong sunlight and the worst of the wind and rain). Similarly, an open-fronted box or even just an old boot tucked low down in a hedge or shrub will often provide the ideal home for a pair of European Robins. If you have a bit more space and some mature trees, you might want to think a little bigger and have a go at building and installing a Common Kestrel box. These are fairly simple to build (though take a little longer and more material than a tit box) and can readily be inhabited by kestrels if located in the perfect spot. If you’re lucky to have kestrels already regularly lingering in or near your garden, you may be surprised just how quickly they move in! Matt Phelps