Try a gnatty trap to say bye to the flies

I’m growing some bulbs indoors but they’re covered in flies, what can I do? Alice, Cannock

The fungus gnat is the likely culprit. They live in damp composts and look like flies walking over the soil or hovering around plants.

They are unlikely to damage plants but can be unattractive to look at.

Allowing compost to dry between watering will help reduce the problem and sticky traps designed to catch insects are available from most garden centres.

The secret to success for next season is in your soil. If you cultivate and condition, feed and dress soil well, you provide a strong foundation for beautiful flowers, flowing foliage and bumper crops.

Winter is the perfect time to get cracking too, as freezing and thawing loosens the soil and makes it easier to dig. Simply wait for a day when ground is not frozen or waterlogged, then follow these steps.

STEP 1: CULTIVATE

AND CLEANSE

Your first job is to cultivate soil by digging down and turning it over with a garden fork, breaking up any large pieces and removing stones and weed roots as you go. This aerates the soil, which makes it easier for plants to access vital nutrients and water.

Shift any debris and compacted clumps that can get in the way of spreading roots. Removing weeds is also essential since weeds compete with plants for water, nutrients and even light if they get big enough.

Done wrong, this work can be – quite literally – back-breaking, so take care to use the correct technique

It is back-breaking work so make sure that you dig properly

while digging. Your aim is to use the weight of your body and leverage of the fork’s handle to do most of the heavy lifting for you, rather than using the strength in your muscles.

Stand upright with your back straight and step your weight on to the fork’s head to push its prongs into the ground. Then, step back and push down on the handle to use the leverage of the shaft to upturn a section of earth. Use the side of the fork to break apart clumps and remove any debris by hand.

Most plants need a root depth of 15–20cm, so it is best to dig down at least this far, though you’ll want to dig to around 30cm deep if growing root vegetables. Alternatively, hire a rotavator to do the hard work for you!

STEP 2: CONDITION

Soil is a living thing and there are more micro-organisms in a handful of earth than there are humans on the planet! Many are good for your plants – they encourage resistance to disease and break down organic material, releasing nutrients in a form that can be absorbed by roots.

These beneficial organisms are promoted when you introduce oxygen into your soil by cultivating it. They also thrive in soils rich in organic matter. So your next step is to add in lots of organic matter to keep microorganisms thriving and, in turn, create a nutrient-rich environment for your plants.

There are lots of different kinds of organic matter to choose from. You can use composts and leaf moulds, farmyard manure and various soil conditioners available from the garden centre – these look like bags