START COMPOST

Having a tidy up? Put all your winter prunings to good use by layering them at the bottom of

a new compost heap. This is one of the few times of the year when our gardens produce as much carbon-rich ‘‘brown’’ waste (fallen leaves, dried stalks and twigs) as nitrogen-rich ‘‘green’’ waste, especially while lawns are on the go-slow and don’t need regular mowing.

The best spot for a compost heap is somewhere sunny but out of sight, as very few compost heaps make attractive garden features.