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Put up shading to reflect scorching sunlight and keep temperatures downOpen all vents on warm days, but close again in the eveningOrder plug plants and seedlings by post, and pot up as soon as they arriveTake leaf cuttings from houseplants

for various clients. If you have not yet ordered then get your skates on as they are best bought at this time of year for winter planting. As were all plants until relatively recently - nurserymen dug up and split plants and then sent them out wrapped in paper

Sow green manure crops to fill bare soilRemove pond weedsHoe and hand weed bordersFeed plants such as roses, shrubs and hedgesPrepare soil ready for sowing a lawn or laying turf during September and OctoberSend off for mail-order bulb catalogues

Check variegated shrubs for plain green shoots and prune them awayPlant out wallflowers, forget-me-nots, pansies and other spring beddingFork over vacant areas of soilDeadhead pansies regularly to keep the flowers comingPlant lily-of-the-valleyOrder hedging

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

to use in winter. Cut down the leaves to stimulate new growthOrder garlic ready for planting in autumnWater pot cyclamen saved from last year to start them back into growthBuy prepared hyacinth bulbs and plant as soon as possible so you get flowers

Wrap grease bands around fruit trees to catch female winter moths climbing up from the soilPlant out garlic or start growing cloves in pots to plant out laterClear away old crops and dig over the groundSow hardy peas under fleece for an early crop

and shallotsOrder garlic and onion sets for autumn plantingPut grease bands on fruit trees to catch wingless winter mothsPlant out rooted strawberry runners and pot some up to bring into the greenhouse later in winter for early fruitsVegetables to sow now

to stop autumn leaves falling into them and rotting downOrder new turf to lay during damper autumn weather Choose your bare-root roses and bare-root shrubs for winter plantingCollect, wash and store away canes and plant supportsCheck tree ties and plant

to stop leaves falling inRemove pumps and filters from ponds and water featuresEmpty ceramic and glazed pots to store under cover for winterCollect fallen leaves smothering alpines and other plantsOrder roses, hedging and fruit trees for winter planting