What to do in the garden this week

Protect your plants against frost

:: Pot autumn-rooted fuchsia cuttings into small, individual pots.

:: Continue to harvest Brussels sprouts, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, parsnips, celeriac and winter cabbage.

:: Order summer-flowering bulbs, particularly if you are planning to grow any that need starting off indoors, such as tuberous begonias.

:: Sow quick-growing perennials such as campanulas and poppies to flower this year.

:: Keep off the grass in frosty weather.

:: Examine stored dahlia tubers for any signs of rot and remove any which are affected.

:: To perk up a winter display, replace badly damaged plants with pots of dwarf, early-flowering bulbs such as scillas and narcissi.

:: In sheltered areas, prune tender climbers and wall shrubs that are already showing signs of strong growth, to further encourage growth.

:: Complete winter pruning of wisteria if this wasn't done in November.

:: Cut back self-clinging climbers such as ivies and Virginia creeper, to keep them within bounds.

:: Cut back the dead stems of ornamental grasses to ground level.

:: Divide overcrowded clumps of snowdrops to increase your stock, splitting them and replanting single bulbs a few centimetres apart.

:: Keep weeding, if weather permits, to ensure perennial weeds don't take hold before spring.