1. Be good to wildlife
Let's face it, however much we hate aphids, caterpillars or moles, most of the animal inhabitants of our gardens do little but good. And if we can encourage them to live and breed in our gardens, they'll help it look better and give us something to enjoy when we're sitting outside.

Fortunately there are plenty of simple tricks to make friendly animals and insects more welcome. To encourage pollinating insects such as butterflies and bees, you should plant plenty of flowers and flowering shrubs - borage, lavender, buddlia and honeysuckle are particularly good. Maybe leave a little part of the garden as a wild haven. And if you have plenty of insects, it should attract the birds, though you can make your garden even more attractive by adding a bird feeder or bird table, plus most important of all, a source of water--be it a bird bath or a small water feature.

Finally, you should try to give your visitors somewhere cosy to live so that they'll stay permanently. You can get a range of insect houses that encourage ladybirds, lacewings and butterflies to move in, for example. There are hedgehog houses and bat boxes too. Plus you'll find a whole range of bird boxes to suit your feathered friends.

2. Give your potting shed a spring clean
It's easy to let this important spot get out of hand - piled high with old flower pots and tools. However, the beginning of the year is the perfect time to get it in shape. Clean your old pots and restack them so they are easy to reach. Wipe and check your tools for the coming season, and clean old plant labels ready for use in the spring.

To help keep things in order, collect as many jam jars and pots as possible over the Christmas period - you'll be able to use them to store all those little things like hooks, plant ties and labels. And you could always invest in a set of shelves or baskets to tidy up the larger bits and bobs.