There are signs that Spring is just around the corner! Daylight length is increasing. Early spring-flowering bulbs are peaking through now and buds are plumping up ready to start putting on a display. With the odd sunny day encouraging us to get outside, it’s time to start thinking about what we need to do in the garden this year. So, with that in mind, here is a list of important jobs to do this month.

Flowers

• Cut back deciduous ornamental grasses that have been left uncut over the winter before new shoots appear. Cut them back to within a few centimetres of the ground
• Divide large clumps of snowdrops after flowering (commonly referred to as ‘in the green’) and replant to start new colonies
• Prune late summer-flowering clematis, cutting stems back to healthy buds about 30cm from the base
• Divide congested clumps of herbaceous perennials and grasses to make vigorous new plants for free
• Prune winter-flowering shrubs, such as winter-flowering jasmine and heathers, once they’ve finished flowering to encourage new growth for next year’s blooms
• Prune your Wisteria now, cutting back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds
• Plant bare root roses for summer colour
• Prune hybrid tea and floribunda roses, before growth restarts
• Sprinkle slow-release fertiliser around the base of roses and other flowering shrubs

Fruit and veg

• Finish pruning apple trees and pear trees whilst they are still dormant
• Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches
• Chit potato tubers, standing them in trays (I use empty egg boxes) in a light, frost-free place
• Prepare veg beds for sowing by covering them with a thick mulch of organic matter and then covering over with a sheet to enable the ground to warm up
• Check empty pots that may be harbouring any overwintering snails

Greenhouse

• Sow sweet peas in deep pots and keep them in a frost-free environment (I use toilet rolls for this). If you planted any sweet peas in autumn, now is the time to pot them on and pinch them out to encourage side shoots
• Sow tender crops such as tomatoes and chillies in a heated propagator or on a warm sunny windowsill
• Plant dahlia tubers in trays to encourage shoots to develop, which you can then use as cuttings
• Wash greenhouse glazing inside and out to let in as much light as possible

Garden maintenance

• If we are unlucky enough to have any further snowfall, knock it off evergreen shrubs, hedges and conifers to prevent any branches from snapping under the weight
• Improve the soil by spreading organic matter over beds
• Clear away old plant debris from pond margins and scoop out any leaves that have fallen into the water
• Clean and service mowers and garden power tools, so they’re in good order for spring
• As roses are hungry plants, spread a layer of well-rotted manure around them and they’ll repay you later on in the year