Winter a great time for garden planning

12:56 17th December 2010

With the rest of the country rushing about like mad trying to prepare for Christmas, garden and greenhouse fans might actually feel like they have more time on their hands.

The winter months often make such people idle as they have little practical work to be getting on with as everything tends to be in a dormant state.

However, DIY Matters has suggested that growers should be making the most of the downtime by preparing for the spring and summer.

It claimed that now is a great time to plan a garden overhaul as most green spaces currently look slightly barren and can be seen as a blank canvas to help visualise upgrades.

The firm advised using simple shapes to create a "strong and elegant" feeling, with a well-structured design essential for creating a good platform to build on.

Keeping on top of weeds is, as ever, important during winter. DIY Matters noted that weed fabric can be used to suppress the pesky plants, meaning less work has to be done in spring.

In other news, the Royal Horticultural Society recently handed out a number of botany degrees at a prize-giving ceremony in London.