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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

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

-changing corner. Repetition can be effective, and garden designers will often use three or more identical containers planted with the same plants for maximum impact.There's no end to the range of plants that can be grown in pots. By combining long-term evergreens

to tranplanting, so do research the requirements of your particular species before moving any cherished plants.)spring and autumnMore advice on plantingVideo advice on preparing shrubs for tranplantingPractical planting projectsHow to plant a small tree

Sow sweet peas into deep potsTransplant evergreen shrubs and conifers to new sitesFlowersSow peas in lengths of guttering under coverPlant out onion sets in rowsCarefully dig away grass or plants growing close to fruit treesFruit & vegPlant canna lilies

the glass with bubble polythene is a cheap and effective way of keeping your plants snug and protected from draughts.Collect and compost autumn leaves Cut back suckers growing around the base of treesVisit garden centres to choose bulbs and bedding Around

which are available in a wide range of colours. And they couldn't be easier to grow.Cover soil with polythene sheets to keep it dryKeep your Christmas tree outside in a bucket of waterWash cloches and cold framesAround the gardenClear away annual

the evergreens to keep us amused.Last year my autumn tree of choice was the magnificent liquidambar - I was actually quite bossy in my urgings. This year I have chosen a slightly more humble tree: the field maple, Acer campestre.Acer campestre is our only native

is so unexpected and so swift that you're only able to take six plants from your existing garden.So which six plants will you choose? Will you go for something big - a favourite cherry or a noble oak? Maybe an evergreen to liven up your winter? A rose

The other day there was a tweet* from Gardeners' World regarding a post I wrote on this blog a couple of years ago, about my top five trees for small gardens.While I still stick with those five I thought I might try and add a further five just