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Sow seeds of dwarf beans in rows and climbing ones alongside canesPlant out crops being raised in pots under glass, such as marrows, courgettes and tomatoesCover soft fruits with netting to prevent birds eating themSow a few seeds of salad leaves

Hang old CDs among crops and from fruit trees to scare away birdsWater beans and sweet peas as they start to flowerGive extra water to ripening soft fruits such as raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries and currantsFeed tomatoes and crops

and other berries from birdsCut out fruited canes of raspberriesPile up the earth around trench varieties of celery for whiter stemsPick 'Discovery' and other early ripening applesPrune blackcurrants after fruiting, removing about a quarter of the oldest

Pick ripe apples and store the best in fruit cratesDig up strawberry runners and pot them upNet autumn raspberries and blackberries to protect them from birdsLift and dry maincrop potatoes and store in paper sacks in a cool, dark placePot up a few

to keep birds awayPrune overgrown laurel, yew and camellias back hard to rejuvenate themWrap straw or bracken around the base of tender shrubs and climbers to protect them the from coldCheck stakes and ties are secure on trees and climbers

Bamboo canesSecateursGarden twine or stringJanuaryWeave several willow stems together.Bend the entwined willow stems into a circle about 45cm in diameter.Once your circle is complete, trim off any untidy ends, and secure with string if necessary.Insert four

Cleavers grows rapidly during warm weather. The sticky stems are able to scramble around the garden, smothering small, cultivated plants and setting masses of seed. It's usually introduced on the coats of animals, birds' feathers or human clothing

it against birds with netting.Alternatively, cut out the bare patch of lawn, rake the soil and add topsoil if needed then patch the gap with new pieces of turf.AdamA small sheet of polythene pegged over the area will encourage the grass seed to germinate

-eating birds. While gardeners are less fond of this plant, it is useful to soothe the sting of a nettle when rubbled on the skin. A tatty-looking, coarse-leaved plant that has deep, branching taproots, which will keep regrowing after being hoed out or lightly

Work off Christmas excesses by digging over bare areas of groundPlace cloches over tender plants to give them extra protection from frostSharpen blades on hoes, secateurs and other garden tools, and wipe with an oily rag before storing awayDo a