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Plant new fruit trees and bushesTidy strawberry beds, cutting back old foliage and congested runners and removing weedsPot up a few roots of mint and bring under cover for winter pickingsImprove soil, digging over bare ground and forking in bulky, well

the greenhouse border and dig in fresh compostPlant dwarf irises, hyacinths and crocuses in potsRemove faded leaves and flowers from plants to prevent grey mould spreadingVentilate greenhouses on warm days but close vents at nightCover poinsettias to give them

seasonRemove pond pumps and filters, wash and store awayTake advantage of seed catalogue early order special offers

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

Net crops to protect them from pigeonsEarmark your best sprouts for the Christmas table and give them last-minute protection if windyTake hardwood cuttings from fruit bushesGet ready for planting asparagus in spring, removing weeds and digging over

featuresRemove pond pumps and filters to wash and storeLook out for special offers on early orders from seed cataloguesWrap outside taps with insulation to prevent them freezingTreat fences and timber structures with stain or preservativeWelcome in the new

Sow seeds of dwarf and climbing beans in deep pots or cardboard toilet roll tubes filled with compostPlant new asparagus bedsContinue planting potatoes, shallots and onion setsFeed spring cabbage with a high-nitrogen fertiliserRemove forcing jars

, slightly wider than the width of the slate.Use a chisel and a hammer to remove the wood between the lines, creating a channel for the slate to sit in.Slot the slate into the channel so it protrudes about 10cm - cut it to size if necessary.Remove the tile

Several varieties of lily form small bulbils on their stems from late summer to autumn, from which new plants can be propagated. If they fall off the plant, they rarely grow into large plants, so it's best to remove the bulbils by hand and plant

is important as it is where the roots of the new plant will develop. Trim off the small flap of excess bark with a knife.Remove the lower pairs of leaves so that the cutting has a length of bare stem that can be cleanly inserted into the compost.Dip the cut end