Bare-root trees and hedging plants are generally cheaper than container-grown specimens, but they must be planted while they are still dormant. Don't delay any longer.
If planting trees, don't just pop them into the ground. Dig a hole about two foot deep and wide, and enrich it with well-rotted manure and compost.
In the vegetable garden, some gardeners like to cover a portion with black polythene to gently raise the soil temperature. Fix the edges securely with bricks or rocks.
After about three weeks the soil should be slightly warm and moist underneath (and you'll find a fine crop of slugs sheltering on the underside of the polythene).
Sow salad leaves, leeks, spinach, beetroot, scallions, chard, summer cabbage and potatoes into this patch. They will germinate and grow faster - and will appreciate being protected with horticultural fleece or a cloche in their infancy.
Jane Powers is at: jpowers@irish-times.ie