This can be the most straightforward and successful of garden seasons.

It is simple to plan a good show of flowers, once you start to think of those plants which naturally and happily grab the chance of early light, before trees and shrubs put on their leaves; the daffodils, anemones, hellebores, violets and primroses. Most look good in pots too.

The garden and landscape around have now been reduced to simple bare bones.

Last year’s leaves and stalks have decayed and the true garden structure made fully visible. Now is the chance to gaze around with a designer’s improving eye.

Of course there are jobs to do, a final tidy of those dead remnants of last summer, as insects begin to stir and leave the protection of hollow stems and old leaves, and as new growth lies waiting.

You can always lay down a plank of wood to stand on if the ground is sodden. Then there are late bits of twiggy (not evergreen) hedge pruning, before birds begin nesting in March.

Avoiding hard frosts, cut the later flowering shrubs – Cornus, Buddleja, bush roses – right back, all to an outer facing bud, aiming for a good shape and future robust growth.

For further information go to kmc.ac.uk