In the garden this week: Rhubarb and some winter cheer

Divide your rhubarb Big clumps of rhubarb die out in the middle, producing less over time. Dig and divide now. It's a tough job that will involve collateral damage, but rhubarb is a survivor. Use a sharp spade and your weight to slice the crown into several pieces, each with at least one pink bud, cutting away dead and unproductive bits. Dig in generous quantities of garden compost before replanting with the buds just below the surface. Winter cheer As everything closes down and dies, stave off the blues with some winter bedding. Clear out old and manky hanging baskets, requisition pots, buy fresh compost and some violas and plant with abandon. Cram them in. Look for wallflowers, bellis and forget-me-nots in garden centres and plant in pots, particularly where you've planted spring bulbs, so that the bulbs peep through the bedding come spring.