Also, ruthlessly thin out any old or weak wood from the white, scented Jasminum officinale and ditto the climbing potato vines or Solanum. You can also shorten the latter's main shoots to suit your space or framework.

During any mild spells, don't be seduced into severely cutting back very overgrown hedges, particularly if you live in the midlands.

Leave that job until the end of the really cold weather because cutting encourages new growth too soon, which could be killed off by sharp frosts or cold winds yet to come.

The indoor climber, the pale blue-flowered Cape leadwort Plumbago capensis, is also ready for a good haircut: take back the arching wands made last summer to within one or two buds of where they join the old wood.

Repot if it's outgrown the container, then feed and water in well.

I find that Plumbago does not flower well unless it has immense amounts of natural light.