There are plenty of jobs to be getting on with in the fruit garden in January.

• Plant fruit trees and bushes in fine weather, if the soil is workable.

• Check stakes and ties on all fruit trees, to make sure that they are secure and not rocking in the wind. Slacken ties if they have become to tight.

• Continue pruning established fruit trees, and burn all prunings.

• Inspect apple and pear trees for canker. Cut out any infected tissue and paint wound with a bituminous wound paint.

• Spray fruit trees and bushes with a tar- oil winter- wash to kill overwintering insect eggs - (do not spray strawberries).

• Mulch gooseberry bushes with well rotted farm yard manure or compost.

• Prepare new strawberry beds if planning to put in new plants. Dig the soil and mix with well rotted farm yard manure or compost. Leave the large clods of soil to be broken down by the frost.

Soil must not be worked when it is wet. Wait until the soil is workable before digging or planting. If the soil is wet, do some maintenance jobs like checking the stakes and ties on fruit trees and bushes.