It may be cold outside but there are still plenty of jobs for the gardener to be getting on with.
- Keep your house plants moist with warm (not hot) water, don’t give them a shock with cold water
- Maintain your tools – sterilise your pots and give tools a rinse and wipe any wooden ones with oil
- Take stock of last year and plan for any helpful changes to your garden layout
- Add a little compost and thick layer of mulch to protect tender new growth
- Make use of your old Christmas tree. The pine needles can be used in the garden as mulch for plants that prefer acidic soil such as hollies, rhododendrons and camellias. Spread needles on the soil nearby
- If the ground is not frozen now is a good time to turn the soil. This will expose insect eggs and help hungry birds but it will also help to break apart heavy clods
- Heavy snow can damage trees and shrubs but only remove if you are fearful of breakages, otherwise snow can provide insulation for many plants.