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the growing conditions to discourage moss and help the grass fight back. Encourage the grass to grow vigorously by feeding it and avoiding mowing too closely. In autumn and spring, scarify the lawn with a spring-tine rake to remove any moss. On compacted soils

or a spike-like daisy grubber. Alternatively, slash though the mats of foliage with a knife at weekly intervals to weaken and loosen the plants. Collect mowings from the lawn, as this can help spread daisies. Pull or dig out daisies in borders by hand

Dock, Rumex crispus, appears in the garden in large spreading groups, and is characterised by coarse, battered leaves. It spreads via seed produced by tiny brownish-green flowers, which appear in abundance in summer and are loved by seed

Vinca major or periwinkle is a pretty, low-growing plant often with pale blue flowers that is used as a ground cover plant because of its mat-forming properties. However, it can be very invasive, and will rapidly spread around the garden

compost to dig in over winter, or pile onto the soil for the worms to drag underCut down marginal plants surrounding pondsSend off for mail-order seed and perennials cataloguesMow your lawn on a dry day with the blades set highWrap outside taps

after the wildlife in their garden and boost the balance between beneficial insects and pests.Mow lawns regularlyTreat problem weedsTidy up hedgesAround the gardenTie in young delphinium growth to plant supportsSow hardy annual flowers directly into beds

with more of your favourite plants for free.Add lawn cuttings to the compost heapMow and edge your lawnTie stems of tall perennials to supportsAround the gardenKeep baskets and patio pots wateredSpray roses to protect them from pests and diseases

weather sets in.Use a fork or hollow-tined aerator to spike lawnsDig up and pot up tender perennials to bring indoorsRaise the cutting height when mowing the lawnAround the gardenPlant crocuses, fritillaries and dwarf narcissus in lawnsPlant up patio pots

can also suffer badly when their roots are disturbed, or they're left dangling in an empty space. Before mowing a lawn with mole hills, sweep up the soil to avoid smudging it across the grass.There are two symptoms of moles: mole hills - piles

eradication requires determination over a number of years. Where horsetail is growing in grass, regular close mowing will cause it to die off, although it may persist in borders at the edge of lawns.Spray shoots with glyphosate in summer. Tread down the shoots