Although it has been cold, and gardens are taking time to wake up, experienced gardeners know that in a few short weeks plants will be in active growth. This is an ideal time to plan ahead with some cheap ideas for more plants.
Check out the following link for some useful gardening tips for February - Gardening Job Checklists - February | BBC Gardeners World Magazine
Firstly, take a look around any established plants to see if there are any self-seeded plants nearby. You can compare their foliage with the parent plant to check it is the same. Even if you realize you have made a mistake, the young plants won't have established an extensive root system and can easily be removed.
A good number of annual plants are like de facto perennials because if they thrive in a particular spot, they will self- seed readily. Examples include hollyhocks, honesty and nasturtiums.
Meanwhile, it is a good idea to save seeds of favourite plants during the year so that you have more control over where they appear. Plants that have already grown in a particular site will produce seed that is better adapted to live in that setting. Whereas it would be very difficult to grow say, pansies from a packet by direct sowing, it is fairly common for pansies grown as bedding to shed seed on the soil and give rise to miniature plants the following year.
The best time to save seeds is typically Autumn, although it can occur at other times during the year. Store seeds in a labelled paper bag and sow when the temperature rises with April being peak seed-sowing month.
For a step-by-step guide on seed saving see this link - How to Collect and Save Seeds | BBC Gardeners World Magazine
Some plants, like strawberries and bugle, reproduce through runners or by rooting along stems, like periwinkle. These new plants can be moved once they have roots.
Many indoor plants, such as spider plants, survive outside, dying back in winter and regrowing in spring. Simply cut off baby plants from long runners, place them in water on a windowsill, and they’ll develop roots in a few weeks. Even without outdoor space, many indoor plants will root in water if given enough sunlight.
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