The Flower Garden

• Sow sweet peas in deep pots and pinch out shoot tips once two pairs of leaves have developed
• Cut back old stems of mallow (Lavatera) to ground level, taking care not to harm new shoots
• Plant hedging plants
• Prune down stems of dogwoods, willows, cotinus and paulownia
• Fork and rake over the soil in border areas where you want to sow hardy annual flowers

The Fruit and Vegetable Garden

• Cover rhubarb with an old bucket to exclude light and encourage early pickings of long tender stalks
• Prune gooseberry bushes to open up the centre of the bush to improve air circulation
• Chit seed potatoes in trays in a bright, frost-free position
• Plant bare-root fruit trees before they start growing in March
• Sow seed of broad beans, carrots, hardy peas and parsnips outside in soil warmed by cloches

In The Greenhouse

• Plant dahlia tubers in pots or trays, and place in a heated propagator
• Start raising crops from seed, including tomatoes, chilli peppers, aubergines and cucumbers
• Prevent seedlings being affected by damping-off disease by watering compost with a solution of copper fungicide
• Sow cyclamen, keeping the trays in total darkness until seeds have germinated
• Repair broken panes of glass and damaged or badly fitting doors and vents

Generally Around the Garden

• Take care not to walk over borders or on lawns where spring bulbs and flowers will be emerging
• Order young plants from mail-order companies. These will usually be delivered during April and May, ready to be used in summer displays
• Sort out and clean up canes and plant supports, ready to be used in early spring
• Use a pressure washer to clean paths, steps, paving and patios