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of spare time.Wash out flower pots and seed trays Trim back climbers that are close to gutters and windowsTest the pH of your soil with a kitAround the gardenCut back overgrown honeysuckle Pick berried winter shrubs, flowers and evergreen leavesPlant bare

readily available climbers - evergreen Persian ivy Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' and deciduous Vitis coignetiae, the crimson glory vine.What fantastic partners. Ivy is a valuable screening plant, clinging to almost any surface, and relishing challenging

in reducing air temperatures during summer and insulating them during winter.I've always been cautious about recommending planting climbers like ivy against buildings, although I enjoy the sight when others do it. Provided walls are sound and ivy is kept clear

out there that punch way, way above their weight when it comes to fragrance.As an example Sarcococca hookeriana, a sparky little evergreen shrub with deep maroony leaf stems and tiny white flowers like the tassels on a stripper. Last year I had one

are 'creative, colourful and convenient'. In other words, they'd like us all to buy and plant more of these valuable evergreen shrubs.I find it surprising that while most of us love seasonal colour in our gardens, and invest a great deal of time and money in pot

in late-summer are pretty wide-ranging, as are shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials. Most fashionable annuals, exotics and tender perennial patio plants should also stay in flower until late-September, or even early October, if properly looked after