Flowers

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• Plant bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees, as long as the ground isn't frozen

• Take root cuttings of fleshy-rooted perennials such as oriental poppies, acanthus and verbascums

• Establish new colonies of snowdrops and hellebores by buying plants in flower, so you can choose the prettiest blooms

• Clear away soggy, collapsed stems of perennials and compost them

• Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as forsythia, willow and viburnum

• Remove and bin hellebore foliage marked with black blotches, to limit the spread of leaf spot disease

• Press mistletoe berries into the bark of apple trees to establish your own mistletoe plants

• Check that small alpines don't become smothered by fallen leaves and other wind-blown debris

• Deadhead winter pansies and other bedding regularly, and remove any foliage affected by downy mildew

• Move deciduous shrubs that are in the wrong place to more suitable sites

• Check for rot on stored bulbs and tubers, and ensure dahlia and canna tubers haven't totally dried out

• Continue pruning climbing roses, while they are dormant

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Greenhouse

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• Sow winter salads in a greenhouse, conservatory or on a sunny windowsill, for harvests within a few weeks

• Tidy up the greenhouse, getting rid of any broken pots, old compost or debris that could hide unwanted visitors

• Move potted strawberry plants under cover to encourage early fruiting

• Check overwintering plants regularly for aphids, mealy bugs and other pests, and take action where necessary

• Bring potted peaches into the greenhouse to avoid leaf curl disease

• Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) in pots and place on a warm windowsill

• Keep the greenhouse frost-free by installing a thermostatically-controlled electric fan heater

• Bring potted camellias into an unheated porch or greenhouse to encourage early flowering

• Take root cuttings of perennials such as phlox and Japanese anemones, and plant in free-draining compost

• Start sowing seeds of hardy annuals, such as cornflowers, cerinthe and ammi, in modular trays for early flowers

• Prepare your greenhouse for spring by improving the ventilation, shading and heating

• Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days to prevent humidity building up

 

House plants

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• Give houseplants extra humidity to combat the drying effects of central heating

• Repot moth orchids after flowering if they look like they're about to burst out of their pot

• Water house plants less frequently and move them off particularly cold windowsills at night.

• Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) bulbs in pots for spectacular flowers over the winter season

• Repot any house plants that have become top heavy or pot bound into larger containers

• Move houseplants onto a sunny windowsill over the winter, to get as much light as possible during the shorter days, or choose indoor plants for low light

• Some house plants, like snake plants, are particularly prone to collecting dust on their leaves. So be sure to give these a wipe regularly

• Take leaf cuttings from house plants, including African violets and begonias

• Take leaf cuttings from succulents, such as echeverias, crassula and sedums

• Check your house plants for pests like aphids, scale insects, thrips and mealybugs

• Put large-leaved house plants into the bath or shower and hose them down to clean off accumulated dust

• Sow cacti seeds into moist, loam-based compost and place in a propagator or on a warm windowsill

 

Garden maintenance​

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• Top up bird baths with fresh water daily and melt ice with warm water on frosty days

• Repair wobbly or damaged fences, and treat wooden structures with preservative during dry spells

• Give your lawn mower a basic service or take it to a dealer for maintenance, while it's not in use

• Put up bird boxes in sheltered spots, on tree trunks, sheds or walls, well before the nesting season begins

• Clean and sharpen your tools, including hoes, secateurs and shears, and spray metal tools with oil

• Sprinkle an all-purpose fertiliser along the base of hedges and around shrubs

• Trim back ivy, Virginia creeper and other climbers that have outgrown their space, before birds start nesting

• Provide high-energy food for birds to help them through the winter months

• Clear soggy leaves, algae and moss from paths, patios, decking and steps

• Dig over any gaps in borders, removing the roots of perennial weeds

• Give empty pots and seed trays a thorough scrubbing ready for the start of the sowing season

• Remove debris from shed and greenhouse guttering, so winter rain can fill up your water butts

• Scrub and clean out bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene

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