With spring only weeks away, gardeners across the area are being urged to use February wisely to prepare outdoor spaces before the busy growing season begins. While winter still has a grip, milder spells and longer days make this an ideal month to get ahead.

Here are five key jobs gardeners can tackle now to save time later.

1. Cut back and clear winter growth

Deciduous ornamental grasses left standing over winter should be cut back before new shoots appear. Late-summer flowering clematis can also be pruned now, while old foliage on perennials and epimediums should be cleared away to make room for spring growth.

2. Prepare beds and borders

February is a good time to improve soil structure by spreading garden compost or well-rotted manure over beds. Dividing congested clumps of herbaceous perennials will also help plants grow more vigorously once temperatures rise.

3. Get fruit and veg ready

Finish winter pruning fruit trees and soft fruit, and start chitting early potatoes in a light, frost-free place. Veg beds can be weeded and covered with compost to warm the soil ahead of sowing later in spring.

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4. Sort out fencing and garden boundaries

Winter weather often exposes weak or damaged fencing, with wind and damp taking their toll on older timber panels. Local specialists Fit Forget Fencing say late winter is one of the best times to assess boundaries before nesting season begins and gardens become busier.

Based in the region and formerly known as Colourfence Dorset and South Somerset, the company has more than 10 years' experience installing low-maintenance fencing, railings and decking across Wells and the wider Somerset area. Now trading as Fit Forget Fencing, the team continues to work as a Colourfence Trade Partner, offering long-lasting fencing designed to avoid the need for regular painting or repairs.

5. Tidy structures and tools

Now is also the time to clean greenhouses, check cold frames, repair raised beds and service lawnmowers and garden tools so everything is ready when growth accelerates.

With birds starting to nest from March, gardeners are reminded to complete major cutting back and boundary work soon. Getting these jobs done now can make spring far more enjoyable — and far less frantic.

Fit Forget Fencing sponsor Nub News.