Time for a garden reset...

THE WINTER MONTHS CAN BE USED FOR PROTECTING AND IMPROVING YOUR PATCH SO IT CAN FLOURISH

- DAVID DOMONEY

AS FEBRUARY marches on, the garden can feel paused, but it’s a brilliant time to get organised.

The best jobs now are the ones that protect plants, improve soil, and make spring work easier, without pushing growth too soon.

Natural food is still limited, so keep feeders topped up with high-energy options like sunflower hearts and suet.

Refresh drinking water daily, and if it freezes, melt ice with lukewarm water to avoid smashing the bowl.

Make sure you give feeders a regular clean, too, because hygiene matters when lots of birds share the same perch. If you're adding some new nest boxes, get them up now in a sheltered position, well before nesting activity increases.

Find out more about putting up nest boxes in January's episode of Step-by-Step gardening on my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney.