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will take place this week. I'll be planting main crop potato varieties and onion sets. The lighter evenings make such a difference — I'll be able to pop down after work.My main crop bed is already prepared. I dug it over and raked in blood, fish and bone. I

We've been harvesting potatoes. After the dreaded potato blight hit the rows of potatoes I was quick to employ my son to cut off and rake up all the haulms.Although we couldn't lift the tubers immediately and we had a lot of rain, when we did lift

Watch Monty Don's video demonstration of how to sow spinach seeds, with advice on the ideal location, soil preparation and spacing.springMore advice on growing vegVideo advice on sowing salad leavesSow lettuce seeds in gutteringHow to sow seeds outdoors

Bare patches can appear in your lawn after a thorough raking, where the grass is undernourished or where it's been worn out. These gaps should be reseeded or returfed to prevent moss and weeds colonising the soil and to allow your lawn to look its

with yellow sorrel organically is to hoe it before it flowers and set seed, then remove it or leave it on soil surface on hot day to wither and die, to dig it out or smother it with mulch or a deep layer of soil. In lawns, vigorously rake the patch with a wire

Watering can or hosepipeMarch - April, September - October1 weekendJune - AugustPrepare the area, levelling the ground and removing big stones. If the surface is uneven, wheelbarrow in some topsoil, pour it on top and even it out with a rake.Firm the soil

of fleece handy to protect plants if frost is forecastBuild log piles at the back of borders for wildlife to shelter inRake out dead grass from lawns

and paulowniaFork and rake over the soil in border areas where you want to sow hardy annual flowers

guide to creating leaf mould in a leaf heap.Lightweight leaf grabbersFlat-tined plastic or rubber rakeBesom broomLeaf blowerWoven plastic bagsRotary lawn mowerautumntwo hours (depending on quantity of leaves)Buy yourself a lightweight pair of grabbers

Discover how to renovate a lawn with Monty Don's video project on preparing soil by digging, forking and raking before laying the turf.spring or autumnMore lawn care adviceHow to maintain a healthy lawnHow to repair a lawn patchHow to mow a lawn