Even though the weather is dull and grey, you can prepare for the brighter months of spring with these five garden jobs.
1. TAKE CARE OF YOUR LAWN
Try not to walk on the grass in frosty or extremely wet weather as this can cause damage. When conditions are favourable, spike the lawn with a garden fork, especially in areas where puddles form, as this will improve drainage.
After spiking the lawn brush over or sprinkle lawn sand into the holes.
2. CREATE A GARDEN POND
Why not make a small garden pond with a pre-formed liner. It will be ready for when frogs start to look for places to spawn in the coming months.
3. PRUNE WISTERIA AND FUCHSIAS
Cut back summer side-shoots of wisteria to two or three buds and cut fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot.
4. LIFT AND DIVIDE SNOWDROPS
If you want to move them or create more snowdrops, lift and divide the plants once they’ve finished flowering but while they’re still green.
5. CUT BACK ORNAMENTAL GRASS FOLIAGE
From the end of February ornamental grass foliage can be tidied.
For deciduous varieties of ornamental grass, remove the old foliage by clipping to a few centimetres off the ground, before new growth starts to appear.
Evergreen just need combing through and perhaps a slight haircut, taking up to 1/3 off the height. You shouldn’t cut these back to the ground.
