The days between Christmas and New Year are a kind of calm before the storm.

Alright, so all the shops are open again after the festive season, but there is a kind of mental lull, which means that it seems easier to take stock.

And nowhere more so than in the garden where everything is seemingly fast asleep. But not for long. Soon the snowdrops will be up, with the daffodils hot on their heels.

The thing to do is prowl around and see where you can make improvements.

Don’t say, “I’m not going out there until spring; that’ll be soon enough”.

Get out there now and by spring you’ll have made the improvements your garden needs so that it can grow ready for the new season.

Make a list of all those parts of the garden that aren’t really working – a shady patio, an overgrown border, a broken gate or bench – and actually do something about them! I already sound like a bully but you know it makes sense and, in this period of rest and relaxation, what better way of slimming down the Christmas waistline?

But take it easy. If you’re going to dig over the veg patch (a great idea except if the soil is frozen or too sticky) do it in bursts of 15 minutes at a time.

Don’t go at it for an hour or you’ll do your back in. Perk up your patio with a few new containers, banishing those that have either fallen apart or which just look too dreary.

Remember, a few large containers always look more stylish than lots of smaller ones and they don’t dry out so quickly in summer. 

Add some evergreens and winter-flowering heathers to give them winter beauty.

Pressure wash the paving before you move the containers back and you’ll find that not only does it look smarter but you also won’t slip.

Now is the time to order the plants you’ll need for spring borders and seed orders, too, are best made out before the rush.

Wait until March and the varieties you need may well be sold out; order now and you’ll get the pick of the crop.

When the seeds arrive, keep them in a cool, dark place. You see, it’s not all hard slog. With a glass at your side and a warm fire in front of you, this is the time to dream. C

ome spring, those dreams might well be a reality – if you take the trouble to undertake a little forward planning and hard graft.

Don’t miss Alan’s gardening column today and Tip Of The Day every weekday in the Daily Express.

For more information on his range of gardening products, visit alantitchmarsh.com.