Best of the bunch - Witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia)

Witch hazels brighten up the garden at this time of year, with their spidery and fragrant yellow, orange or red flowers.

These slow-growing, deciduous shrubs are striking in the late winter garden when the great outdoors still seems to be in a state of semi-slumber.

Among the sweetest is h. x intermedia 'Pallida', while 'Diane' bears interesting red flowers and bright red and orange autumn tints and 'Arnold' produces bright yellow flowers.

Witch hazel grows to around 3.7m (12ft) and should be planted in moist, well-drained, neutral to acid soil in sun or dappled shade.

After flowering, cut back the flowered shoots to strong buds, but only to confine the plant if it is outgrowing its space.

Good enough to eat - Bare rooted cane fruits

This month is the latest time to plant bare-rooted cane fruits including raspberries, blackberries and hybrid berries.

The canes are usually sold in bundles. Prepare the ground beforehand, digging a trench along the proposed row, adding organic matter if not done previously.

All bare-rooted cane fruits, except autumn-fruiting raspberries, need support, which is done through placing posts at either end of the row, with a minimum of three strong wires hung horizontally between them.

If you are using a wall or fence as support, attach the wires to vine eyes screwed into the wall and plant raspberries about 45cm (18in) apart and blackberries 1.5m (5ft) apart.

Prune newly planted canes to about 22cm (9in) from the ground to encourage the production of good, strong canes from the base.

In the summer you can cut it right out. Tie the canes to the wires as they grow, but don't take a crop this year, removing flowers to help establish the plants so they produce a better crop in years to come.

Three ways to - Restrain invasive herbs

1. Surround herbs such as tarragon and mint with a barrier of slates buried vertically in the gound to stop the underground runners from threatening neighbouring plants.

2. If planting in a border, plant invasive plants in a bottomless bucket buried to its rim.

3. Make an ornamental feature of invasive herbs on your patio by planting them in individual pots.

What to do this week

:: Keep sacking or old carpet handy to cover and insulate cold frames during very cold periods.

:: Sprinkle sulphate of potash fertiliser around the base of fruit trees and bushes.

:: Cover buds on fruit trees and bushes with netting to protect them from the birds.

:: Finish winter-pruning apple and pear trees, removing badly placed or diseased branches.

:: Bring pot-grown strawberry plants into the greenhouse to encourage early flowering and fruiting.

:: Trim back winter-flowering heathers when the flowers have started to fade.

:: Plant new roses before spring. Bare-rooted bushes should be planted immediately.

:: Clip wall-trained ivy, removing it from windows and gutters.

:: Continue winter digging, adding compost as you go.

:: Sow parsnips as soon as soil conditions allow.

:: Sow spring onions and lettuce in cold frames or under cloches.

:: Prick out seedlings in the greenhouse and space them in larger trays when they are big enough to pick up by their new leaves.

:: Plant dahlias into trays to encourage them to develop shoots to take as cuttings.