It may seem a bit early but actually now is the time to get your plant stakes and supports ready for your border, especially if you are coppicing hazel for them. Better to do it now rather than when it is too late and the hazel is difficult to bend into the shapes that you want. Remember to make the supports long enough to go into the ground by 200mm and reach the height of support you need. It is much harder to place supports once perennials have started growing.

However tempting on a sunny day, do not cut back the more tender plants such as Penstemon just yet. Wait until the last of the frosts have gone and you can see fresh growth at the bottom of the stems and then cut to about 5cm above soil level. For more details check out Rosy's video

https://fb.watch/bcYtiqAJDW/

Many bees, butterflies and other pollinators are still wintering in the dead leaves and stems of last year's plants, so leave it a few more weeks before clearing the borders.

If the weather is mild you can start to harden off plants that have been in the greenhouse or cold frame over the winter. Bring them out for a few hours during warmest part of the day and pop them back under cover at night, slowly building up the amount of time over a fortnight to three weeks. Exposure to colder air helps to reduce the risk of pests and diseases.

Having said that, we could still be in for periods of heavy frost and possibly snow. Sort out and keep handy sections of fleece or hessian plus keep an eye on the weather forecast. Swift fleecing action now will help prevent disappointment later.