"January is the time to get things sorted ready for the chaos and growth in spring. Clearing all the debris, fallen leaves, dead and broken branches and other clutter will ensure your garden is clean and tidy and will eliminate hiding places for slugs, snails and other unwanted nasties that loiter in dingy places. While the garden is void of most of its foliage I would strongly suggest checking all your plants for signs of any problems. I always check my shrubs at this time of year for diseased and dead wood so that I can remove the affected branches. It's also a good idea to check variegated shrubs to make sure they have no leaves that are trying to revert back to their original green foliage. These leaves should be removed"

Roses and repairs
"Now is the perfect time to prune back your roses, again removing dead and diseased wood, or if you fancy a few new ones buy and plant bare-rooted ones now. Remember not to plant a new rose where an old one has lived before (you should leave it about four years) because you run the risk of it suffering from disease.

"Again while the garden is bare get all those repair jobs done even if it's too cold too hold that hammer and nail! Fix tired fences and trellis, repair that wobbly gate and replace that cracked slab. One thing I would avoid though, until the weather dries out, is staining timber. It is never a good idea to do so unless the wood is dry otherwise you will just seal in the moisture".

Grand designs
"This is the ideal time of year for any major works in your garden, such as laying a new patio, brickwork, decking, paths - why not have the work done during the months when you won't be in the garden? It still confuses me why my customers all start ringing up during March and April just as the weather is on the turn and the garden becomes usable again! I guess spring urges people into action, but it is too late by then for any major work not to disrupt enjoying the garden in the warmer months of the year. One word of warning though: if you are laying any concrete or using mortar for brick work it will need protecting from frost. If temperatures fall below 4°C concrete will not 'go off' and if wet concrete freezes it will expand the water in the mix and render it useless, basically turning it into dust".