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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

Keep lawn edges trimmed by cutting with a half-moon edging toolLook out for cabbage white butterfly eggs and rub them off with your fingersRemove blanket weed from pondsFeed hanging baskets and patio pots every weekPrune fast-growing hedges like

and aquatic featuresScoop water weed from ponds with a small netRemove suckers from roses or around the base of treesSummer prune wisteria by shortening all long sideshootsStake dahlias and late-flowering chrysanthemumsTrim privet, laurel, conifers and other

Prepare soil ready for sowing a lawn or laying turf during September and OctoberTop up water levels in pebble fountains and poolsDeal with problem lawn weeds, digging them out or applying herbicideOrder spring-flowering bulbs to plant this autumn

Remove suckers from roses, shrubs and around the base of trees, like cornus and sorbusTrim box topiary and hedgingCut laurel hedges using secateurs so you don't damage the remaining leavesSpray mare's tail with a weedkiller such as glyphosate

Bulk up the compost heap with spent flowerheads and stems from around the garden Improve drainage on compacted lawns by spiking the ground with a fork or aeratorCut everlasting flowers and ornamental grasses for dryingPut netting across ponds

material around outdoor tapsOrder hedging plants, roses, trees and shrubs, and prepare the soil for plantingSpike compacted lawns and brush grit into the holes to improve drainageRemove pumps and filters from ponds and bubble fountainsDig over vacant soil

cataloguesMow lawns during dry weather with blades set highBring garden hoses and sprinklers under cover for winter to avoid damage in freezing weatherCollect canes and plant supports, and store them in the shedSow a green manure crop over bare areas

Spread a compost mulch around border plants to suppress weedsPut pond pumps and fountains back into pools, thoroughly cleaning filters firstLay turf or sow new lawns from seedClean out bird baths and top up with fresh waterCheck tree ties

Clean and sharpen knives and secateurs, and spray metal tools with oilPut up nesting boxes for birds in suitable trees or on buildingsMove shrubs growing in the wrong placeService petrol lawn mowersSearch through seed, bulb and nursery catalogues