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Plant tagetes with your tomatoes, to act as companion flowers which deter pests Scoop out floating pond weed and algae from poolsHoe bare soil and hand weed beds weekly to prevent weeds from establishing and setting seedPut soft tops on the tips

levels in pools and remove water weeds with a netHoe borders on hot sunny days to remove developing weed seedlingsContinue watering anything newly planted until it has establishedCut verges along the roadside to prevent plants obscuring the view

Pick dead flower-heads off rhododendrons and azaleasHoe borders to keep down weeds, or treat with weedkillerScoop floating weed out of garden ponds with a netFeed lawns with a liquid or granular lawn fertiliserTrim hedges like privet and Lonicera

levels in garden pondsFeed bedding plants with high-potash fertiliser to keep them bloomingWeed flower beds, pulling them up by hand or hoeing bare areas on a hot dayScoop floating weed from ponds with a net

you want them to form autumn hipsTrim lavender immediately after flowering to maintain its shape, but avoid cutting back too far into old woodHoe weeds regularly to prevent seedlings establishingTrim conifer hedges, evergreen hedges and topiary

Improve soil ready for sowing a lawn from seed during showery autumn weatherHoe and hand weed bordersOrder sweet pea seeds for autumn sowing in potsPinch out the tips of wallflowers to promote bushier growthBuy spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, crocuses

Winter prune apple treesPrune away stems of autumn-fruiting raspberries at soil levelPrepare sites to plant new fruit trees and bushes, by improving soil with lots of organic matterHoe bare areas to remove weed seedlingsUse straw to prevent soil

StringMeasuring board (optional)February - May30 minutesFebruary - MarchUsing string as a guide and a trowel or draw hoe, dig a shallow trench about 15mm deep.Sow seeds individually along the row or in groups of two or three at regular intervals, about 10cm apart. You

it immediately if it appears in your greenhouse. Chickweed is a tenacious weed that can grow quickly and form thick mats, which smother nearby plants.Hand weed or hoe out seedlings as they appear, or smother them with a good layer of compost or mulch. The most

and on clothing. Remove cleavers regularly by hand, or hoe off young seedlings before they set seed. Avoid getting seeds on clothing, as this can inadvertently spread it around the garden. Mulch borders with a 5cm layer of garden compost or composted bark