Key tasks are potting, pruning, preparing the soil, and planting.

Pots

Warm well-drained potting mix gets young plants growing much more quickly than cold, damp garden soil.

Buy winter flowers such as cyclamen, primula, pansies, flower carpet roses and polyanthus for some potted colour to provide an instant boost around entrances and outdoor living areas. Grasses and grass-like plants look great in containers.

Preparing the soil

Now is a good time to build up the soil with organic matter to help retain moisture, feed plants and put nature's underground helpers back on track for the coming year.

Gather fallen leaves and other materials for composting.

If you have lots of pruning wood, a mulching machine is a worthwhile investment.

A no-dig vegetable garden in a bottomless box at least 300millimetres high on a sheltered sunny site with metre wide beds for easy reaching is a great winter project.

Pruning

As a garden matures, regular pruning and clearing keeps the balance of space, light and air.

Winter or early spring is the main time to pruning many plants including deciduous trees and shrubs, roses and flowering shrubs.

Prune to remove diseased, damaged or close crossing branches, but take special care not to spoil a tree's natural shape.

Always use clean sharp pruning tools as mangled, unclean cuts can lead to disease problems and don't put diseased material in the compost bin.

Planting

Planting trees and shrubs during autumn, winter and early spring improves their tolerance for dry weather once summer arrives.

Roses thrive in a sunny location when planted in good moisture-retentive soil with plenty of organic matter.

Deciduous trees give shade in summer then let warmth and light though in winter.

Easy evergreens provide permanent structure, whether you plant them as hedges, features or fillers.

Look for brightly coloured foliage to add a dash of year

round colour.