Jobs to do

■ Once the soil is workable, dig a layer of compost or wellrotted manure into beds to prepare for the growing season. You can also work in a generalpurpose fertiliser.

■ If any garden plants need supporting this year, put them in now, so plants can grow up through them. Adding supports afterwards is trickier.

■ Resurface paths before plants start to grow and smother them.

■ Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a slow-release fertiliser by lightly forking it into the soil surface. ■ Prune clematis - prune early-flowering varieties once their flowers have finished and summer-flowering ones before they start into active growth.

■ Cut the old leaves from hellebores (pictured) to remove any foliar diseases.