clearing borders

Bizzybee63

Hi folks, Some plants in my garden like lavetera, Hollyhocks,and snap dragons  have still got lovely green foliage. Do I cut it all away ? Many thanks.

Esspee

Lucky you.  Plants make their food through their leaves so I would just cut back any dead material when the weather warms up.  Old foliage provides some protection when temperatures drop so don't be in too much of a hurry.

Tell me is the weather good enough to be thinking of doing such work down your way?  My garden is under an inch of frozen snow!

Topbird

Agree with Verdun to leave alone for now as the foliage will provide a good degree of frost protection over the next couple of months. You can give everything a really good tidy up in early March ( assuming the weather forecast is favourable!)

gardenninggranny

February is always the crucial month for me.  Everything starts into growth and then bitter weather kills it all off because it's too tender.  Existing foliage is OK though as it's had plenty of time to harden off.  I agree with Verd and TopB - leave well alone right now and only cut back really dead looking stuff (talking herbaceous here) - unless it has seed heads that the birds might enjoy.

Bizzybee63

Many thanks everyone! Very helpful  

Bizzybee63

Esspee , we have had a bit of frost now and again , and sunny days, so was thinking of doing a bit of tidying up!