Gardening Week

? Cut sprigs of colourful

? Keep a check on weeds like groundsel, chickweed and bittercress which can flower and seed in mild spells in winter.

? Don't touch snowdrops, hellebores, pansies, polyanthus and other flowers when they're frozen as they're easily damaged.

? Hold off ordering your patio plants by post; I have some great offers lined up for you in the next few months.

? Cover soil where you plan to plant and sow your first crops with clear polythene to keep it dry and arm.

? Order seeds from the mail-order seed companies as soon as you can; the best new varieties may soon be sold out.

? Check deciduous shrubs and fruit bushes for pink spots on twigs and branches - coral spot disease. Prune infected wood to 15cm/6in below the spots.