>>Don't be tempted to cut back grasses or grassy-leaved subjects such as Knipho"a (red hot pokers), which need their winter coats for a while longer.

>>Remove all dead wood and crossing branches from deciduous trees, including apples and pears, before growth starts again. In winter, you can easily see a tree's outline and where to make a clean cut.

>>The common Forsythia can be forced to flower early by cutting and keeping it in water indoors for at least a week before it's needed.

>>Garlic and shallots need as long as possible in the ground, so (excepting the very coldest and wettest areas) it's a good time to plant them now. Do not set either in badly drained ground or the bulbs will rot. Set the bulbs 6 inches apart, (about 8 inches between rows, if doing it that way) in shallow drills in welldrained soil, covering all but the very tips. Don't press them down or you could damage the bulbs.