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.Wash and disinfect bird feeders and tables Collect fallen leaves and add to a leaf bin to compost down Spread fresh gravel or grit around alpine plants Around the gardenTake root cuttings of oriental poppies Check stakes and ties are secure on trees and climbers

-sized tomatoes and need staking and growing in large pots or growing bags (three plants per bag). Bush types may be grown in smaller containers and usually produce cherry tomatoes and don't need staking. Popular cordon types are 'Moneymaker' and 'Gardeners

staking than other varieties, which tend to have dense, heavy heads of petals.Cactus dahlias are perfect for providing extra colour to herbaceous borders, as they have such a long flowering season. They also come in a rangeof heights, so can be planted

until November), it needs no staking, the colour goes beautifully with everything (hot colours, softer colours and, of course grasses). Then it seeds itself and you get free plants. I started with twelve in my garden and now have hundreds (not counting

. I now need to earth up again and stake each plant to help it survive the autumnal winds that pummel our hilly site. I don't think canes are going to withstand the onslaught, especially as the plants are so big, but, like most allotmenteers, I've got

. Luckily, they don't need staking.Summer-fruiting raspberries, on the other hand, produce fruit on the previous year's canes. Cut these canes down in autumn after they have produced fruit, leaving the new, green canes to fruit the following year. Summer

Choosing the very best plant supports for perennial plants is always a challenge. Firstly you've got to decide which type of plant support to go for. Should it be something robust made of metal, or something more natural, or even homemade?Then you

be shaded in summer but not too sheltered from the rain.Weed-smothering membraneChicken wireFour tree stakesHammerRubber malletWire or twineautumnan hourCut a piece of weed-smothering membrane to about 1m², allowing a little extra at the edges to tuck around

, placing one of the root control discs provided, under the base of each. Stake the plants or attach them to support strings.Fill up the tank with tap water. It's a good idea to add a suitable liquid plant feed to the tank as well, so that your crops

I always have a dilemma in April, choosing the right plant supports for my tall border perennials, delphiniums in particular. Last year I used lots of home-grown sticks leftover from pruning my silver birch. Pushed firmly into the soil around clumps