GARDENING

VITAMIN D and physical and mental activity are the perfect antidote to the claustrophobia of being stuck indoors.

Being active releases chemicals like endorphins and dopamine which make you feel good, while the achievement releases serotonin to lift your mood.

Here are my top activities for your garden.

Plant a pot with winterflowering plants like cyclamen, primroses, pansies, violas and heathers. It will put a smile on your face.

A patio make- over is easy, quick and satisfying. Jet washing your flagstones will give an instant visual lift to the entire garden.

Prune and shape untidy plants which have overgrown your garden. Using secateurs or shears, get trimming to let more light into your garden – removing the “three Ds”: dead, diseased or damaged branches for tidy and healthy plants.

As long as the ground is not frosted, plant fruit trees or shrubs. It’s a great time as they will be ready to grow when the soil warms up. Currants are easy to grow as are raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries and many more. Apples, pear and cherry trees are also ideal. Feeding the birds is a lovely activity. Visit my website daviddomoney. com for recipes for fat balls and seedy treats for garden visitors.

And, finally, indoor gardening with house plants is a fantastic alternative, especially if you don’t have a garden. Treat yourself to a new plant and reap the benefits of cleaner air and less toxins. My new book – My Houseplant Changed My Life: Green Wellbeing for the Great Indoors – is out next month and a great place to start.