Prune back Buddleja and Sambucus (elderflower) plants hard; down to just 18 inches or 50cm if wished
Start sowing vegetables but make sure you keep them under cover
Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches
Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering
Divide bulbs such as snowdrops when they have finished flowering
Prune Wisteria back to 2 or 3 buds
Prune hardy evergreen hedges and renovate overgrown deciduous hedges
Cut back deciduous grasses, ready for new growth in Spring
Prick out seedlings and pot them on as soon as they are large enough
Buy your plug plants, keep them somewhere frost free
Prune back Roses and Clematis that flowered late summer and Autumn
If you suffered from peach leaf curl on your peaches or nectarines last year spray now with a copper based fungicide before bud burst.
Do not over water your plants, water only when the compost is dry
Plant new Grape vines, or prune established vines
Sow Sweet Peas for planting out later
Check the glass is not loose after high winds over the winter
Buy and put up nesting boxes for birds
Keep bird feeders topped up and put out food on the ground and bird table
Avoid foods that could cause choking in young fledglings i.e. whole peanuts
Keep the bird bath topped up
Regularly clean the bird bath and table to cut down the risk of disease
Put out food for hedgehogs -not bread and milk! Dog food is better for them although not chicken varieties.
Plant new berrying trees and shrubs – a mix of natives and non-natives works well
Put out log and/or rock piles to create areas of shelter for wildlife
Build a compost bin
Continue to keep ponds from freezing over. It is important to keep an area ice free so that the fish can breath
Monitor the water level of your pond, as winter weather can cause defects in liners and concrete structures.
Dig a new pond with gently sloping contours between the shallow and deep areas, and between the bank and the water. This is wildlife-friendly and will help to make marginal plantings appear natural.
