Twelve garden jobs for a cold, quiet winter

The garden looks asleep from December to February, but it is the busiest planning time of our year and the best time to plant anything bare-root. Here are the twelve jobs our crews work through, roughly in order.

December

• Check fences, pergolas and gates after storms. A loose post is a five-minute fix now and a new panel in March.
• Clear leaves off lawns and out of drains. Wet leaves kill grass and block linear drains by the back door.
• Walk the garden and take photos. Note what you liked in summer and what you want to change. It is the best brief you can give a designer.

January

• Plant bare-root hedging. Hawthorn, beech, hornbeam and yew are a third of the price of potted plants and establish better.
• Plant bare-root trees and roses. Keep the roots wet until they go in and stake trees low.
• Book spring work. Our spring build slots fill by the end of January.
• Keep off frozen lawns. Footprints on frosted grass leave brown marks into March.

February

• Cut back grasses and perennials. Leave the seedheads until now for the birds, then cut down before new growth.
• Prune shrub roses and late clematis. Cut to a strong pair of buds.
• Mulch borders while the soil is moist and before weeds start.
• Clean the patio. A stiff brush and a bucket of water with a little washing soda is enough for most stone.
• Service the mower. Sharp blades cut grass instead of tearing it.

If you would rather we did the lot, a seasonal maintenance plan covers four long visits a year.