THE weather has turned and Jack Frost is very much in town.
So what should we be doing to make sure our gardens aren’t completely frost bitten?
The Royal Horticultural Society has outlined three jobs you should do to make sure you’re in good shape.

1. Check your winter protection structures are still securely in place.
Cold, wet, windy winter weather can damage trees, shrubs and garden structures such as trellis.
Improving shelter, staking plants, mulching, wrapping pots and careful matching of plants to places will help to prevent this kind of damage.

2. Check greenhouse heaters are working
The high cost of fuel and the desire to garden sustainably are concentrating gardeners’ attention on operating greenhouses with the minimum energy usage.

3. Insulate outdoor taps and prevent ponds from freezing
If your pond is stocked with fish and it does freeze over, melt the ice by placing a hot pan on the surface, or install a pond heater or water feature to prevent freezing occurring.

Making sure your greenhouse heating is working – and pruning where required are among the jobs to do
Pictures: Pixabay

Other jobs recommended by the RHS are:
– Prune open-grown apples and pears (but not those trained against walls)
– Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding
– Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops
– Trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted
– Take hardwood cuttings
– Keep mice away from stored produce
– Reduce watering of houseplants
For more details and information on protecting your garden this winter, log on to www.rhs.org.uk/advice