JOBS TO DO THIS WEEK

■ Hit by frost this week? It may have blackened some plants but you can remove the damage in spring. Newly planted shrubs can lift during hard frosts so firm back in gently.

■ You might be too busy with Christmas preparations to do any gardening this week, but if the sun does come out it can be great to get a bit of time outdoors. There’s always plenty of clearing up to do, pictured, at this time of year, sweeping up leaves, weeding and cutting back dead perennials.

■ Force rhubarb that’s well established using pots or upturned buckets, block any drainage holes with black polythene to exclude light. Only force your plants every other year – allow rhubarb to grow naturally on alternate years. ■ Put out fresh water for birds when ponds are frozen.

■ Peaches and apricots grown against a fence or wall can be given some protection against peach leaf curl by erecting a rain shelter made of plastic.

It should cover the top of the tree but allow access for pollinating through the open side ends. Keep in place until mid-May.