Gardening expert warns February planting may cause bulbs to struggle

A horticultural specialist has advised delaying planting of many bulbs until late February or early March because of a very wet, cold winter and recent heavy rain; the RSPB also urged fitting nest boxes during National Nest Box Week to support garden birds.

A horticultural specialist has cautioned gardeners against planting bulbs too early in February. After a very wet and cold winter, many parts of the UK have faced heavy rain and some flooding. Social media gardener @gardening.with.ish noted that planting in early February may be a struggle and advised waiting until late February or early March. At the same time, conservation groups have highlighted measures to support birds as spring approaches. Key points: - TikTok gardener @gardening.with.ish said a very wet, cold winter means planting bulbs a little too early in February may struggle and suggested holding off until late February or early March. - Large areas of the UK have seen heavy rainfall recently, with some locations reported to have had up to 41 consecutive days of rain. - The RSPB recommends fitting simple nest boxes as an easy way to support birds and noted National Nest Box Week as a timely reminder. - Nest boxes are commonly priced around £10 to £20 and come in different styles for different species, including purpose-built Swift boxes and open-fronted boxes for Robins. - The RSPB noted that Swifts are not due back until late April and that their numbers fell by about 62% in the UK between 1995 and 2021, with a lack of suitable nest sites cited as a factor. Summary: The expert guidance may affect some gardeners' planting schedules this season, since planting too early in cold, waterlogged soil was reported as potentially problematic. The RSPB's focus on nest boxes highlights continued attention to garden bird support as spring approaches, with Swifts noted to return in late April and nest box maintenance typically carried out in autumn.