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At last the festive season is over and we can all get back to normal and to make matters even better we are moving closer to the real gardening season and better still, the evenings are drawing out. In a few weeks　we can be working in the garden well past five of clock and there is much to be done. If you are in the mod for planting then you can do no better than get a Mahonia Japonica "Charitry"　 into the ground.

Providing the ground is neither waterlogged or frosted then this lovely shrub with its great cascades of yellow flowers makes a great addition to the border or better still as a stand alone architectural plant. This holly leafed evergreen is a sturdy plant which will grow in most conditions.

Make sure all fences are repaired. There is no short cut to this as leaving the damaged ones in place or just repairing and making do will only mean the job will have to be done properly again soon and if the work is left too near the spring then climbing plants will be damaged when replacements are carried out.

Plant new Evergreen hedges as the ground conditions are just right now. Go for Cypresses Leyland or its more decorative cousin, "Castlewellan" which has yellow tinges to the foliage. For a slower growing Conifer, plant "Thuja Plicata" which makes a good alternative. If you prefer not to use Conifers then "Prunus Lucitanica" or Portuguese Laurel makes a wonderful hedge with its small bright green leaves and its masses of sweetly perfumed white flowers during summer.

Give newly emerging spring bulbs a feed of Sulphate Of Potash to help them on their way and produce better flowers.

Here's to A Happy Gardening New Year.