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Shrubs are useful building blocks when you're planning a garden, providing structure and substance. Winter is an ideal time to assess your garden and see if there's an empty space that's just right for a new shrub

Cut late-summer-flowering clematis right down to soil levelDivide congested clumps of perennials such as asters, campanulas, rudbeckias and chrysanthemums after floweringPlant bare-rooted rosesDig up and compost exhausted summer beddingPlant out

Thanks to their cheery flowers, which come in a wide range of colours, primulas are one of our most popular spring bedding plants. Once this display is over, plant everything out into a damp spot in the garden.September - early November

'Chile Black'Heucherella 'Burnished Bronze' x2Dark-coloured window boxCrocksMulti-purpose compostCover the bottom of the window box with crocks, then fill it two-thirds with compost.Plant the scabious in the centre, sandwiched between the heucherellas

Raise new mint plantsIf you're already dreaming about sipping a cool mint julep in your summer garden, now's the time to get your mint plants ready for the job. Take cuttings from established mint plants to keep the drinks tray supplied all summer

Build a compost binStart adding homemade compost to your soil and you'll not only enjoy watching your garden thrive and flourish but you'll also have the satisfaction of seeing your kitchen waste get recycled too. In just five easy steps, we'll show

Free-draining compost or cactus compostSilver sandNewspaperSheet of glassPencil (to prick out)Seed trayall year round20 minutes to sowFill a broad terracotta pot with a moist, gritty, loam-based compost, such as John Innes. Firm down and make the surface level

-rotted manure or garden compost.Using a trowel, take out a hole at the base of each cane and set plants with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil. Fill around the roots with soil and firm the plant in place using your fingers.Water the plants

. Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones.SoilGarden spadeGarden forkGarden rakeOrganic matter in the form of compost or well

feedersMulti-purpose compost, slow-release fertiliserCrocks or polystyrene piecesPlace the pot in its final sheltered position then add polystyrene or crocks to improve drainage.Fill the pot two-thirds full with multi-purpose compost and mix in some slow