February is when gardeners quietly set the stage for spring. Even in cold climates, there’s plenty to do.

First, plan. Review last year’s wins and losses, sketch your beds and containers, and plan a simple crop rotation for vegetables.

Next, order what you need. Take stock of old seeds, then order the vegetables, herbs, and flowers you want. Restock seed-starting mix, trays, labels, compost, fertilizer, and tune up your tools.

Then, start seeds indoors. Using your last frost date as a guide, start peppers, eggplants, some tomatoes, onions, leeks, and early flowers in a seed-starting mix under good light. Label everything to keep track of varieties.

Prune while plants are dormant. Remove dead or crossing branches from trees and shrubs, but skip early spring bloomers until after they flower. In mild areas, you can prune roses now; in colder ones, wait a bit longer.

Do some light cleanup. Pull spent annuals and diseased material, and throw the diseased parts in the trash. Weed on mild days, but leave some stems and leaf litter in place to shelter overwintering beneficial insects.

Prepare beds where possible. If the soil isn’t frozen or soggy, spread compost and any needed amendments, and avoid walking on very wet ground so you don’t compact it. Adjust mulch so plant crowns don’t stay constantly wet but still have some protection.

In mild climates, you can begin planting. Direct-sow peas, salad greens, radishes, and some root crops, and set out hardy plants like kale and cabbage under row covers or other protection.

Check containers and perennials. Make sure pots drain well, repair or replace damaged containers, and gently firm back any plants that have been heaved up by freeze–thaw cycles. Top-dress with compost to give them a boost.

Indoors, tend to houseplants. Watch for pests and treat them early, water sparingly according to winter needs, rotate pots for even growth, and wipe dust from leaves so they can better use available light.

Finally, use the quiet time to learn and dream. Read about gardening, connect with other gardeners, and set a few clear goals for the season. A little planning, pruning, seed starting, and soil care in February will make the rest of your gardening year more productive and enjoyable.