Christmas may be over, but it looks like it’s going to be freezing for some time yet. These simple steps will ensure that the garden is brought out of the post Christmas slump and ready for Spring!

Create colourful beds and borders to help plants look stylish and draw out their colour. Equally, because the weather is so cold, maintaining paving is essential to avoid damage around the borders which will be especially obvious when the weather turns warmer.

Another practical step to take in the colder months is to keep weeds at bay. This will inevitably make Spring planting even easier: just when you want your garden to look sensational. Also spend time cutting back overgrown borders and grasses so that the workload really is at its minimum once Spring arrives. Why not encourage wildlife into the garden and give them a place to rest when the weather is at its worst with a stylish, yet practical, birdhouse with room to add decoration.

Lighting up paths and driveways can be essential for safety during winter, but why not take this a step further by illuminating impressive trees, plants and garden centerpieces for ambience. Winter is the perfect time to spot privacy issues in the garden that become apparent when there is a lack of foliage around. A woven fence panel can be great for retaining privacy, delivering both style and practicality. Finally, prevent water-logging on lawns and thick-lay soils by regularly spiking the surface with a fork during the wet months, so your soil remains at its best all year round.

All of these steps will help to keep your garden looking fantastic this winter and minimise the work when Spring arrives.