-On a mild day, when the soil is not frozen or waterlogged, roughly dig or fork over vacant areas of the vegetable plot.If you do this now, it will expose overwintering soil pests such as cabbage root flies, carrot flies and slugs, which will quickly succumb to natural predators and cold weather. Don’t forget to remove weeds, as well as rogue carrot roots and potato tubers, which often provide winter lodgings for pests and diseases.

-Some perennial plants, such as agapanthus, kniphofias and phygelius, may struggle in cold winters, so give them a little protection. Scatter a thick mulch of bark chippings or leaf mould around the crown of each plant.

-Greenhouse grapevines need pruning as soon as the fruits have been harvested and the leaves have fallen. It’s also a good time to plant new vines under cover.

Reader’s question

How can I keep rabbits off my fruit and vegetable plot?

-D Rayner, Worcester

The best approach is to erect a sturdy 3ft-4ft wire mesh fence (a small gauge is best) around the perimeter of your plot. Always bury the bottom of it at least 12in underground. You can protect individual fruit trees (and soft fruit bushes) by wrapping a plastic tree guard around the base of each trunk.

gardenexpert@sunday-times.co.uk

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