– Plant bare-root fruit bushes, roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees and trees into a nutrient rich soil, provided the ground isn’t frozen or completely water-logged.

– If it snows and settles, shake it off your plants, hedges, conifers and shrubs to help prevent damage to them.

– Now is the month to sprinkle some general purpose slow release fertiliser around the base of established shrubs, hedges and trees when the ground isn’t frozen to help them to stay healthy and looking their best.

– Deadhead any winter bedding plants regularly and remove any diseased foliage. Clear soggy or collapsed perennial stems at the same time.

– Plan out your vegetable growing for the year ahead, ensuring that the same veg isn’t grown in the same spot twice in a row to prevent disease. Check what fertilisers you are running out of and whether you need any more compost or top soil at the same time.

– Clear weeds and old crops from your vegetable plots. Whilst you are there, dig over the soil and mix in a general purpose fertiliser.

– If you don’t have netting over your brassicas, add some to protect your precious vegetables from hungry birds.

– Give your spring cabbages a feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser to stimulate leafy growth.

– Get your greenhouse ready for the upcoming growing season. Get rid of and replace any old or damaged pots or seed trays and give everywhere a good sweep and clean. Whilst you are cleaning, look at whether you need to improve the shading or ventilation for the year ahead. Make sure you provide some ventilation at this time of year too, to reduce the risk of fungal diseases caused by excess condensation.

– Use bubble insulation or fleece to wrap around any container shrubs if frost is forecast. Alternatively, move them to a cold frame or greenhouse if you have one to protect them.

– Consider a thermostatically controlled heater for keeping your greenhouse frost free when required if you don’t already have one.

– Keep inspecting your winter protection for your trees. If you notice any stakes, supports or ties are damaged, replace them as soon as you can to prevent any damage to your plants, particularly if storms or strong winds are forecast.

– Keep your bird bath and bird feeder clean, frost free and topped up with a high-energy food to help them over the cold winter months.

– Don’t forget to grit your paths with rock salt when icy weather is forecast to prevent any nasty accidents.