Prevent weeds from appearing the following season by applying a residual weed killer to raspberries and strawberries in early winter, as soon as the plants are leafless. Alternatively, apply a heavy mulch. Finish pruning gooseberry and currant bushes and prune autumn-fruiting raspberries. Summer-fruiting raspberries, blackberries and hybrid berries should be tip pruned.

In mid-winter, start to prune hardier fruit trees, such as apples; leave damsons, pears and plums until late winter. Cut scions for grafting in either mid or late winter, and then heel them into the ground by a north wall, ready for grafting in early spring. Cut back stocks for grafting to form a head.