February 2008 has been a month of extremes. On the 12th and 13th we had record breaking daytime temperatures of 16C (around 50F). By the 17th, night time temperatures fell as low as -8C (18F) and daytime hovered around 0C (32F) with the ground as hard as rock. The cold clear evenings of mid February bring their challenges with protecting plants but also rewards of spectacular Western skies as the sun sinks over the South Cheshire countryside.

Its a good idea to cover plants of borderline tenderness with a protective mulch at this time. For example, we leave the old stems on our clumps of Lobelia tupa and add protection of small branches from our discarded Christmas Tree at this time.

On the left below, at 08:00 after night time temperatures of -7C its leaves collapse and the plant looks pretty tragic. But by midday (right) the plant has completely recovered and is looking fresh and vibrant.

Euphorbia "Excalibur" is unaffected by cold nights and in February its burgundy flushed leaves are welcome colour in the border. February is a good time to divide Euphorbia griffithii types as the underground stems will have spread in the winter and will now have enough root to be able to survive on their own. Remember all Euphorbias have irritant sap.

Now is a good time to divide Heleniums, provided you have a greenhouse or coldframe to house the young plants (if not wait until April).

The young plantlets can be pulled away from the old stem and they will have plenty of root.  Young Helenium "Luc", on the left, have distinctly red flushed leaves, which they retain to a lesser extent throughout the season.

Choose healthy plants for division - discard any that had small flowers or distorted leaves last year.

Phlox paniculata cultivars will be pushing through the soil now, and many, like Delilah above, have attractive deep red leaves and stems. Most will lose this colour as they mature, but some such as "Starfire" keep it all season long.  Dig up Phlox paniculata clumps and detach "Irishman's Cuttings" - offsets with roots - for potting up now.