WITH all the cold, wet and windy weather we have been having recently it hasn't exactly been ideal weather for gardening.

Most people would prefer to stay indoors in front of the fire rather than venture outside. However, the temperature is beginning to rise and once the rain clears up there is no time to waste.

Gardening expert Duncan Travers, who works at Whiterow Plant and Gift Shop, Beckington, which stocks a large range of plants and flowers for your garden, believes now is the best time to start splitting snowdrops.

"Snowdrops are about six weeks behind this year because it has been so cold," he says. "Usually they start to flower in mid January but they are only just starting to come out now. "But even though they are still in flower this is the best time to move them, when they are still in the green'. It is easier than digging the tiny little bulbs up.

"Also if you buy potted snowdrops they tend to take better than planting them from bulbs in the autumn as they often take a few years to get established."

Now is also a good time to start planting daffodils, primroses and polyanthus into containers to make colourful displays for the spring. Helleborus orientalis, (Lentern roses) are now available at most garden centres in many different colours.

"Some are really dark purple and you can also get brighter colours such as pink and cherry red or even yellow," says Mr Travers. There are also other varieties that have spots on the leaves which are very attractive.

You can also get a lot of perennials at this time of year such as delphiniums and lupins.

"Most garden centres will have a variety of 9cm perennials at the moment and a lot of them are less than £2. They are a good way to fill borders quickly and cheaply."

March is also when you should think about pruning roses as it will encourage new growth and strong stems. Roses are so easy to grow, and giving them a little TLC at the right time will produce many more beautiful blooms to fill your garden with colour throughout the summer.

Cutting back roses will help to keep the plants the right size and shape for their position and encourage more side shoots and therefore more flowers. Roses and other shrubs also deserve a high nutrient feed in March to get them going again after a long winter.

Love it or loathe it, it is also time to think about mowing the lawn again over the next few weeks, during any mild spells of weather, but don't cut the grass too short at this stage. A light trimming is best for the first cut which can then be gradually reduced in height over the next half a dozen subsequent mowings until you get down to a length of about 3cm (1.5 inches).

If the winter has taken its toll and your lawn has a few bare patches then try a lawn reviver and keep feeding the lawn for the next two or three months. For those who grow fruit and vegetables this is a particularly busy time of year.

If you grow autumn raspberries then now is the time to cut them down to the ground as they will grow up during the course of the season and you will have plenty of fruit at the end of the year. Rake over previously prepared ground and sow parsnips, carrots, turnips, summer cabbage and broad beans.

If the weather in March is really harsh then set out cloches to warm up and dry out the surface of the soil. If you have a garden pond then spend a few moments looking over your fish and equipment and make sure everything is okay.

All medication and feeding should only be carried out at temperatures of over 10C. Feed with a good wheat germ contents food and remove anything that is not eaten within five minutes.

This is a good time of the year to overhaul your equipment or upgrade. You will notice a lot of changes in your garden over the next month, which is a sure sign that winter is finally over and the warmer weather is on its way, so get out into your garden and enjoy it.