Flowers:

• Plant bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging, and ornamental trees, weather permitting
• Take root cuttings of fleshy-rooted perennials like oriental poppies, acanthus, and verbascums
• Establish new colonies of snowdrops and hellebores by selecting flowering plants
• Clear away collapsed stems of perennials and compost them
• Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs such as forsythia, willow, and viburnum
• Remove hellebore foliage with black blotches to prevent leaf spot disease spread
• Place mistletoe berries into apple tree bark to cultivate mistletoe plants
• Ensure small alpines aren't smothered by fallen debris
• Deadhead winter pansies and other bedding plants regularly, removing affected foliage
• Relocate dormant plants to more suitable spots
• Inspect stored bulbs and tubers for rot and ensure dahlia and canna tubers haven't dried out completely
• Continue pruning dormant climbing roses

Snowdrops:

• Plant snowdrops for a charming winter display

 

Fruit and Vegetables:

• Winter-prune apple and pear trees, removing dead, damaged, and congested branches
• Organize seeds, discarding old packets and making notes for upcoming purchases
• Plan crop rotation for the year
• Prune gooseberries and redcurrants, cutting back side shoots
• Clear and prepare the veg plot, adding compost as you dig over the soil
• Regularly check stored crops, discarding any showing signs of deterioration
• Plant bare-root fruit bushes and trees in enriched soil if the ground isn't frozen
• Ensure netting is secure over brassicas to protect from birds
• Force an early crop of rhubarb by covering plants
• Feed spring cabbages to encourage leafy growth
• If not done earlier, prune about a quarter of old stems from blackcurrants
• Order seed potatoes, onions, shallots, and garlic bulbs for spring planting

Apple and Pear Trees:

• Prune side shoots for healthy tree growth

Greenhouse:

• Sow winter salads in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill for quick harvests
• Clean and organize the greenhouse, discarding old materials and debris
• Encourage early fruiting by moving potted strawberry plants indoors
• Regularly inspect overwintering plants for pests, taking necessary action
• Bring potted peaches into the greenhouse to avoid leaf curl disease
• Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) in pots for a delightful display
• Keep the greenhouse frost-free using a thermostatically-controlled electric fan heater
• Encourage early flowering by moving potted camellias to sheltered areas
• Take root cuttings of perennials like phlox and Japanese anemones for planting
• Begin sowing hardy annual seeds in modular trays for early blooms
• Prepare the greenhouse for spring by improving ventilation, shading, and heating
• Repot moth orchids after flowering if they've outgrown their pots
• Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days to regulate humidity

Garden Maintenance:

• Top up bird baths daily and melt ice on frosty days
• Repair fences and treat wooden structures during dry spells
• Service lawn mowers while not in use
• Install bird boxes in advance of nesting season
• Clean and sharpen gardening tools, applying oil to metal parts
• Apply an all-purpose fertilizer around hedges and shrubs
• Trim back overgrown climbers like ivy and Virginia creeper before nesting season
• Provide high-energy food for winter birds
• Clear paths, patios, and decking of leaves, algae, and moss
• Dig over borders, removing perennial weed roots
• Clean and scrub pots and seed trays for upcoming sowing season
• Clear debris from shed and greenhouse gutters to ensure water butts fill with winter rain
• Regularly clean bird feeders for hygiene maintenance