• If the ground isn’t too wet, plant herbaceous perennials including geranium, astrantia and oriental poppies.
  • Plant out onion sets to their required spacing, usually about 10- 15cm (4-6in) apart along the row.
  • Hard-prune stems of dogwoods and willows to encourage a flush of new shoots.
  • Lift and divide marginal plants which have grown too large.
  • Cut back ornamental grasses and other perennials left for winter interest, if you haven’t already done so.
  • Improve drainage by hollow spiking the lawn to help prevent the problem recurring.
  • Keep grass trimmed away from the base of trees growing in grass, as this can compete for moisture and nutrients.
  • Finish winter-pruning gooseberries, shortening long site shoots and removing congested stems to create open-centred bushes.
  • Protect the blooms on cherries, currants and early-flowering fruit from frost.
  • Cover soil in the kitchen garden with polythene or cloches to warm it up for early sowings.
  • Open the lids on cold frames each morning to improve ventilation, closing them again each evening.