The wet and windy weather seems to be continuing, with some reasonably high temperatures. While it is welcome it is unlikely to last and in many ways I hope it doesn't as it may well lead to an explosion of pests in spring and summer. The fruit trees and other perennial plants did so much better last summer after the hard winter last year. With fruit trees now is the time to prune them. Although winter pruning can be done in February it is best to get it done now in case the trees start back into growth. Winter washes should also be applied to fruit trees – look for the ones without the nowbanned tar oils. Grease bands can also be applied round the base of the trunk to help stop the wingless female winter moths and others climbing to the flower buds of your fruit trees.

•Even though the weather is mild plants giving good winter displays are fairly limited. The use of coloured stems in the garden can add an extra dynamic to your garden. Yellowstemmed dogwoods offer some of the most spectacular winter colour. Arguably the best are Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' which grows to a height of 2.4m. Salix alba vitellina also give a good display of yellow stems. The purple stems of the dogwood Cornus alba 'Kesselringii' are almost black, with the leaves turning a bright crimson in autumn to give extra value. Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' has striking shiny deep purple stems and when the catkins come out in spring they are black also. For a deeper red stem Cornus alba 'Siberica' is hard to beat. When growing for stem colour it is important to cut them back down to 20-30cm from the ground each spring. Cornus alba 'Aurea' boasts bright yellow leaves in the growing season with deep red stems at this time of year. Salix alba 'Britzensis' has shining orange red stems and the curiously twisted naked stems of Salix x sepulcralis are orange yellow in winter. Cornus sanguniea 'Winter Flame' has winter stems of fiery orange yellow at the base, changing to pink with red tips, this is best grow in semi shade as it does not like direct sunlight. Many plants that are grown for dramatic white stems are actually coloured but covered in white or silver bloom. Both Rubus cockburnianus and Rubus thibetanus form clumps quickly.

•Now is the time to sow onion and leek seed for good crops later this year. Select traditional varieties such as Ailsa Craig, Kelsae, or the milder red skin variety Red Baron. Sow the seed thinly on a peat-based compost, and lightly cover them. As with all seed sown indoors it is best to put a sheet of glass over the top of the tray and newspaper on top of that (just one sheet will do). Keep in a greenhouse or heated propagator at around 16 centigrade. Germination can be slow, but when the seedlings are large enough to handle they can be moved on to individual peat pots. Harden the seedlings off by bringing the temperature down to around 10 centigrade. Put out into a cold frame before planting out in April. The onions should be ready to harvest in July or August. Tomato seed can be sown now if you have a heated propagator you could get your cucumbers going now also. With an early start in a heated greenhouse you could start cropping when others are planting in May or June.