Trim back winter-flowering heathers when the flowers have faded.

Prune winter jasmine after flowering, shortening long old shoots to encourage new growth from lower down the plant.

Clip wall-trained ivy, pulling it back from windows and gutters.

Continue to dig over borders and vegetable crops if you haven't yet done so.

Sow seed of slow-maturing summer bedding such as verbenas, pelargoniums and begonias, in heated propagators in the greenhouse.

Improve drainage on heavy, wet soils by adding generous amounts of gravel or grit.

Clean grime and algae from patios and steps with a pressure washer, or scrub with a stiff broom.

Take cuttings from conifers.

Cover soil needed for early sowings with cloches to warm it up.

Move shrubs which have outgrown their space while still dormant.

Reg Moule's column returns next week.