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settle down by the Christmas tree, and while the kids enjoy the repeats on television I can get down to the serious business of writing my seed orders for 2008. And what a year it's going to be if the seed catalogues are to be believed.Many seed companies

As seed catalogues drop through my letterbox as predictably as falling autumn leaves, I face a dilemma. Each one is a veritable candy store, packed with sweets and treats to savour. I know what I like, and which varieties have performed well for me

It's that time of year again. When the weather gets grim, I like to peruse the vegetable seed catalogues, checking the availability of my favourite varieties and finding out what's new. I enjoy choosing what vegetables to grow next year, but I try

I hope I’m not getting impatient in my advancing years. When the latest seed catalogues arrived I was determined to find out which were the quickest-growing salad crops.Gardening isn’t the best pursuit for anyone seeking instant gratification, and I

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

Top up bird baths with fresh water daily and melt ice with warm water on frosty daysRecycle your Christmas tree by using the local council tip's shredding serviceCheck the closing dates for any early order discounts from seed catalogues so you don

Clean out bird boxesLevel out dips in lawns with loam-based compost and sow fresh grass seedClear away debris that could be sheltering slugs and snailsCheck bonfires before lighting, in case they are sheltering sleeping hedgehogsSend off for seed

Add old crops and bedding to the compost heapSpike lawns then brush grit into the holes to improve surface drainageCollect seeds from beans and sweet peas to sow next yearFirm soil around newly planted trees and shrubs if they've been loosened

Empty glazed pots that aren't frost-proof, and move under coverSend off for mail-order seed catalogues and start planning seed ordersScoop fallen leaves and rotting plant debris from pondsOrder summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladioliGet hold of some

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