DESPITE the incessant rain and floods, temperatures this winter have been unseasonably mild, with daffodils and other sporing flowers already poking through the soil in many Tynedale gardens.

But as the adage goes, as the days grow longer, the frosts grow stronger, and temperatures could plummet at any time, with frosts an ever-present threat to tender plants.

Your garden also needs protecting from gale-force winds and heavy rain, so check stakes, ties, fleeces and other supports for damage and consider moving plants to sunnier positions to maximize light.

Don’t forget to keep feeding the birds – food is scarce for them over winter.

Now the festive season is over, it’s time to recycle your unwanted Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch.

You should also ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days, and dig over any vacant plots that have not been dug already.

You should also take time to inspect the dahlias, begonias and other tubers you put in store at the end of the summer, for rot or drying out, and also start thinking about forcing rhubarb.

Generally speaking though, the garden has battened down the hatches for the winter, so it’s a good time to assess your various plots, and consider whether it would benefit from any changes.

Have a think about adding a compost bin, water butt, new shed, decking, gravel, raised flower bed or the like, for doing these jobs now will give your garden time to recover to its full glory in time for spring.

The mild weather has meant that the grass in some areas has never really stopped growing, but resist cutting it unless it is getting completely out of hand.

Also avoid walking on the lawn in frosty spells, as you may regret it come the summer when you are left with brown patches of dead grass.

You can however get rid of lumps and bumps in the lawn during mild spells by cutting an ‘H’ shape in the turf, peeling back the grass, and either filling with top soil or scraping away the soil.

If the weather is dry you can still paint a wood preserver on fences, outdoor furniture and sheds etc.

You can also clear weeds from borders ready for mulching in the spring, as well as plant lily bulbs.

If you prefer to do your gardening indoors, remember you don’t need to water your house plants so much over the winter.

It’s time to cut back Hypoestes (polka dot plant) and Pilea (aluminium plant) if they look leggy to encourage new growth, and bring Hippeastrum (amaryllis) bulbs into active growth by regularly watering and feeding them. They should flower in late winter/early spring.

Also remember to clear any leaves and twigs from guttering to avoid blockages forming.