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Hard prune shrubs such as buddleia, which produce their best show on vigorous new growth.

Earth up early potatoes to protect them from light and frost.

Feed fish when they become active again after winter.

Bedding plants may now be on sale in garden centres and nurseries, but don’t buy them unless you can keep them in a greenhouse or frost-free frame.

Hoe regularly to gradually eliminate annual weeds in beds and borders.

Continue to deadhead daffodils to prevent them wasting their energy producing seed.

When shoots appear on begonia tubers planted in February or March, thin them to leave only the strongest. You can use the shoots you have removed as stem cuttings.

Feed climbers with general fertiliser and water them regularly, particularly those growing against a wall, which receive less rain.

Continue to plant up hanging baskets and hang them in the greenhouse, porch or conservatory until it’s safe to put them outside.

Pears, plums, cherries and early apples will all be flowering this month. Protect small trees from frost by covering them with horticultural fleece at night and try to plant new trees where they will be sheltered from the wind.