It’s time for sowing, planting alpine containers and living screens and tidying up old growth

There are some vegetables that thrive in the cold, but unless you aspire to self-sufficiency Tom Coward recommends caution when sowing very early in the year. “It’s a mistake, although we always do it

● tape measure ● base fabric (patterned or plain) ● long ruler ● fabric pencil ● dressmaker’s scissors ● lining fabric ● pins ● thread ● needle ● sewing machine (optional) ● wooden dowel pieces ● iron

Toby explains how to take action now to stop weeds in their tracks

Sow courgette and squash seeds now so you’ll have seedlings ready to plant outside in early summer. Fill pots or large module trays with peat-free multi-purpose compost. Place one seed in each pot, ab

Define your borders and support border plants that tend to flop by using salvaged or recycled pieces of wood. Varying lengths and widths work well and you only need a few sound planks to tame and comp