How do I keep the lawn in good condition?
Do not walk on grass when it is frosty; you will break the blades and footprints show up later as darker patches. Because there is so little light in winter, remove anything that shades the grass and makes it weaker. Grass will grow in temperatures above six degrees so you might
have to cut it once or twice between November and February.

How would you protect and disguise garden furniture during winter?
Clear out your shed in autumn to make room for garden furniture and the barbecue. If you don't have a shed, put the furniture against a north- or east-facing wall, where there is some shelter. Cover with a tarpaulin but allow for air circulation.

What are your most effective winter planting combinations?
Those that you actually see on a regular basis are the best. My winter highlight is seeing clumps of snowdrops planted on the verge in the headlights as I drive home each day. The drifts planted behind the house provide weekend pleasure.

Wolfgang Bopp
Curator, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire,
01794 369317,www.hilliergardens.org.uk.