There is always something to do in the flower garden if you want to keep your borders bulging with blooms. Sweet peas Pinch out the tips of seedlings raised from autumn sowings to encourage sideshoots to form and make bushy plants.
Roses Continue planting bare-rooted roses.
Avoid planting new roses where old ones have been removed, unless the soil is replaced and conditioned, to avoid diseases. Snow warning Be ready to brush snow from evergreen shrubs and conifers, as the weight can weigh down and damage their branches. Containers Stand planted patio pots up on feet to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging. Protect pots in very cold spells by moving them to a sheltered position. Cutting back Many perennials can be cut back hard now, removing old growth to make room for new shoots that grow up in spring.