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Clear away annual climbers, like sweet peas and morning glory, growing on obelisksPick seedheads and evergreen foliage and mix with fruit such as clementines or limes to make a fresh Christmas wreathMove tubs of shrubs or winter bedding to a

Net crops to protect them from pigeonsEarmark your best sprouts for the Christmas table and give them last-minute protection if windyTake hardwood cuttings from fruit bushesGet ready for planting asparagus in spring, removing weeds and digging over

The last few days before Christmas have different effects on different people. Some are smugly satisfied as all presents have been bought and wrapped, turkeys and other Christmassy foods have been ordered and it is their sister’s turn to entertain

72246 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk01787 372 958www.gainsborough.orgCO10 2EUOpen all year, Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Closed Good Friday and between Christmas and New Year. Adults £5, OAPs £4, children (6-16) £2. Card valid for the whole property.toilets,plants,full-disabled,refreshments,shop,dogs,public-transport

Parsnips need a really long growing season but they're well worth the wait. Sow seeds early in the year and look forward to parsnips roasted for the Christmas table, or in warming winter soups.Parsnip seeds e.g. 'Gladiator F1'Trowel or draw hoe

Now the chaos of Christmas is over, I can settle down to some serious shopping. In January and February I like to get all my seed and plant orders underway; it's usually the perfect weather to stay indoors, warm and cosy, contemplating the season

Cover soil with polythene sheets to keep it dry so that winter digging can be completedKeep your Christmas tree outside in a bucket of water until you're ready to bring it indoors to decorateWash cloches and cold framesOrder manure or mushroom

it into growth up to eight weeks early. Top up bird baths with fresh water dailyRecycle your Christmas tree at the local council tipCheck closing dates for any seed catalogue discountsAround the gardenSquash mistletoe berries into apple tree branchesCut down old

Forcing narcissiEnjoy an early scent of spring by forcing narcissi. The bulbs are in the shops from late-August and if planted immediately you can have them in flower by Christmas.Remove suckers from roses, shrubs and treesTrim box hedging

recording of a Christmas Special edition of Gardeners' Question Time (broadcast on Sunday 27 December 2009), at which John had been on top form.I'd been invited to join John, Bob Flowerdew and Pippa Greenwood at the Garden Museum near Lambeth Palace