WHAT a frustrating start to the new year. I have been struck down by the winter virus that is doing the rounds – for the third time this winter – and have been cooped up indoors feeling very sorry for myself. Meanwhile, the garden has gone native. Beds are a chaotic mess of dead stems and leaves, the slimy remains of dahlias are collapsing on to frozen pulmonaria foliage and the lawn is covered with a blanket of decaying autumn leaves deposited by the tree next door.

To add to my woes, part of the trellis has come away from its fastening and is precariously balanced between the wall and the holly tree. It is astonishing how quickly a garden can deteriorate.

So despite still feeling ropy, I donned several warm layers and ventured out for an hour last Monday morning to get the place into some sort of order.

It was icy cold, the ground frozen and slippery patches on the path, but the grey sky cleared for a while.

The sun appeared and although its warming rays can’t reach much of our garden at this time of year, despite its south-facing aspect, the gloom lifted and it felt brighter. The winter sun doesn’t get high enough in the sky to clear the tall building, once part of an old dairy, at the bottom of the garden so the lawn and the two flower beds are in shade all day.

Insulated against the cold, temporarily at least, I cleared the lawn of its covering of leaves. This job isn’t usually recommended when the grass is frozen, but the debris was very carefully swept away with the justification that more problems could occur if the rotting vegetation was left in situ.

Only a few steps had to be taken on to the lawn, so little damage was done and this job alone instantly made the garden look tidier.

The slippery paths and patio too have been swept clean and a few dead stems clipped from the beds.

Not much else could be done, because the ground was too solid to dig and, anyway, toes and fingers were beginning to hurt with cold. But the vague feelings of guilt had gone and I returned indoors with new enthusiasm for the garden.

Garden news

THE Ancient Society of York Florists will hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday at Askham Bryan Village Hall. The meeting, which will be the society’s 241st, will begin at 7.30pm and is open both to members and anyone else interested in becoming a member or finding out more about what is the country’s oldest existing horticultural society.

Further details from Mr Robinson, telephone number 01904 631866.

Weekend catch-up

IT IS definitely time to sort out fencing in the garden, as I found out earlier this week.

One Easter several years ago, my sister and I installed a trellis and this has begun to age. With herbaceous perennials safely below ground and other plants in their winter dormancy, there was nothing but inclement weather to stop the task.

Fencing panels and trellis that has come away from its mooring can be screwed back in place, but broken sections will need to be replaced. Most are standard sizes, so a trip to a large DIY store should find suitable replacements in stock.

Pre-treated wood cuts out the need to paint the panels with preservative, but the colour of new fencing is sometimes a little strident. They fade quite quickly, but if it is unbearable there are many shades of colour to choose from that have been developed for garden use.

They are generally easy to use, with many being water based, which means they dry quickly and most are safe for wildlife. Just follow the instructions on the tin.

Gardening TV and Radio

Tomorrow.

8am. BBC Radio Humberside, Gardening Phone in. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart. Telephone number 01482 225 959.

9am. BBC Radio Leeds, Gardening. With Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, BBC Radio 4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Chris Beardshaw, Anne Swithinbank, John Cushnie and chairman Eric Robson are at Pentyrch Open Gardens, near Cardiff, where they give advice on gardening on a budget. The gardening weather forecast is at 2.25pm. (Repeated from Friday, January 2).

Friday.

3pm, BBC Radio 4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Pippa Greenwood, Bob Flowerdew, Matthew Biggs and chairman Peter Gibbs give horticultural advice to gardeners in Hertfordshire. The gardening weather forecast is at 3.25pm. (Repeated on Sunday).

Saturday, January 17.

7am, Radio York, Plant Surgery. Presented by Julia Booth with horticulture expert Nigel Harrison.