VEGETABLE PATCH : Check the shallot bed before planting — a well-drained, stone-free patch suits them best. Push each bulb into the soil so the tip sits just at surface level, 15 cm apart with 25 cm between rows / Onions can go in alongside: press sets 1 cm deep, 10 cm apart in rows 25 cm apart, tip facing upward / Turnips still in the ground can be lifted now — brush away loose soil and store in a cool shed in dry sand.
LANDSCAPING : Clear fallen leaves from snowdrop and crocus crowns to let emerging tips reach the light / Hellebores benefit from removing the oldest basal leaves now, which reveals the flower stems and reduces the risk of leaf spot / Rhododendrons in heavy soils often sit in waterlogged ground after winter rain; apply a bark chip mulch 5 cm deep around the drip line to improve drainage and protect shallow roots.