Winter is underway with a definite nip in the air but days of beautiful sunrises we're up early enough to see. The solstice and the shortest day though are passed and the days have begun to lengthen. As always there are plenty of tasks to be undertaken in the garden!

1. Sterilise pots - All of those empty seed trays and pots that are lying in the corners empty can be cleaned and sterilised and then be tidily put aside until they are needed again. it also gives less places for snails and slugs to hide.

2. Edible garden - make sowings of lettuce for winter indoor growing.

3. Weeding - As always keep on top of weeding hoeing annuals on a dry day and digging out perennials. If you are pushed for time removed all flower heads of perennials to prevent selfseeding and spread.Till the latest little cold snap they've been merrily germinating and growing away! The mild winter weather we've experienced means that many are still in active growth!

4. Window boxes - refresh window boxes and hanging baskets with Skimmia, winter cherries, violas pansies and cyclamen.

5. Pots and containers - remove drip trays placed under pots on the patio to stop water running straight out of the drainage holes in the summer now that the temperature is lowing. Continue to check pots though as even with rain some container plants will not receive water as the plants themselves act as umbrellas to the pots.

6. Pests - place beer traps around areas of beds that are now rife with the latest generation of small black slugs. At least they'll have a happy ending.

7. Deadheading - Meticulous deadheading of plants will encourage further blooms. of cyclamen, violas and pansies.

9. Prepare for Spring - in the warmth of inside start thinking of changes you would like to make. The mild weather though means that hardy trees, shrubs and perennials can all be planted now. Alloing them time to bed down prior to the growth that will commence in Spring.

10. Lawns - continue to raek up fallen leaves as these will cause suffering to lawns and create bare patches.

11. Bulbs - if you missed the time to plants bulbs to for wonderful spring colour, you can buy pot grown ones from garden centres and nurseries to plant now.

If you would like some help with any of these tasks Edens Design are here to help you. Please visit our contact page