Traditionally March is the month to prune Buddleja. In southern England during a warm winter I think February is fine. Buddleja can be cut back hard to the main stems which will put on at least a couple of metres of gangly growth over summer. Certainly the Buddlejas I have been pruning over the past week or two are well under way...

 

Winter silhouettes (Teasels)

 

 Liminal space.

 

 Narcissus 'February Gold' is one of the first daffodils to join the Snowdrops, Winter Aconites and Early Crocus. The very first of the year is probably 'Rijinveld's Early Sensation' which flowers in January or even at Christmas. This cultivar is credited to the noted breeder of narcissi Herbert Chapman circa 1943 so who, what or where was Rijnveld?? 

 

 Is there a more cheery sight in February than Crocus tommasinianus?

 

 Signs of spring: these rather ragged Bergenia cordifolia are already in flower. Spring is said to be our fastest warmest season and late winter is variable. Last year it was cold and frosty into March; at the moment late winter feels like early spring. 

 Late winter is a fairly safe bet for pruning roses. There are shrub roses, rambling roses, climbing roses, groundcover roses, miniature roses, tea and floribunda roses. The rose aficionado will no doubt be more exacting in their timing but I am not a specialist. 

 Standard advice for all rose pruning is to cut to just above a bud. I aim for a shapely shape overall but that's a moot point from rose to rose, particularly ones that are already tangled and overgrown. I note that the RHS advises: "Cut to the appropriate height, if a dormant bud isn't visible" which is basically saying cut to whatever height you think best! 

 Certainly an open shape with some 'air' is preferable in the case of a shrubby rose. Then again a climbing, rambling or groundcover rose is by nature a spreading shape. Cutting out dead and diseased stems, crossing and spindly stems and suckers at the base generally encourages vigour.