Snow, icicles and rock-solid soil and vegetables

My Grow Your Own areas, my flower beds, in fact , everything is covered with snow! The sudden and in many cases very deep snow fall, thick ice and generally miserable conditions have hit many areas hard - my garden is under a blanket of 45-60cm of snow and just about everything is frozen solid.....so if you're similarly hit, I suggest : Make sure the mains supply to outside taps etc is shut-off, if you use any de-icing salt or grit on the paths in your garden or on the drive, try to use as little as possible to allow you to do the job properly and avoid salting where not necessary as run off can  seriously damage plants in adjacent beds and borders. Leave snow covered cloches and tunnels covered with snow unless the weight of it threatens to damage them - the snow will help to insulate the plants beneath, and dramatically cuts out harsh winds, and remember that if you're needing to water any plant in a frame or greenhouse, you'll need to use tepid water or else you can do a lot of damage (add a bit of hot water if necessary).....and finally, don't forget the garden birds, they need lots of food and fresh water to keep them alive.