Germination may take a few weeks, keeping the compost moist at all times

Look out for signs of canker and prune out all dead, diseased or dying branches from apple and pear, leaving plum and cherry until next summer to reduce the likelihood of contamination by silver leaf disease

Ensure any mummified fruits resulting from brown rot are removed from trees to avoid spreading the fungus to next year’s crop

Entice birds to feed on aphids and other pests by hanging fat in trees or suspend from bamboo canes set among fruit bushes and canes

Prune greenhouse vines while they are still dormant and remove loose bark which may harbour pests

Bring in pots of forced bulbs for indoor flowering when ready

Protect winter-flowering bulbous irises from severe cold or damp

Keep off the lawn if it is waterlogged or frozen

Start forcing pots of lily bulbs for Easter and early summer flowering

Cover the ground with cloches where early crops are to be sown, so it is dry and comparatively warm before the seed goes in

(c) 2007 Daily Post; Liverpool. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Source: Daily Post; Liverpool from : www.redorbit.com