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Tidy up piles of flowerpots and debris that could harbour snailsRaise patio containers on feet or bricks, to ensure their compost drains properlyAvoid walking on lawns covered with heavy frost, as you'll kill the grassProvide birds with fresh water

final collection of any autumn leaves still lying aroundSearch through seed and bulb catalogues for new things to grow this coming seasonRepair wobbly or damaged fences and treat wooden structures with preservativePut out fresh water for birds every day

Cover soil with polythene sheets to keep it dry so that winter digging can be completedKeep your Christmas tree outside in a bucket of water until you're ready to bring it indoors to decorateWash cloches and cold framesOrder manure or mushroom

Pick dead flower-heads off rhododendrons and azaleasHoe borders to keep down weeds, or treat with weedkillerScoop floating weed out of garden ponds with a netFeed lawns with a liquid or granular lawn fertiliserTrim hedges like privet and Lonicera

Prepare soil ready for sowing a lawn or laying turf during September and OctoberTop up water levels in pebble fountains and poolsDeal with problem lawn weeds, digging them out or applying herbicideOrder spring-flowering bulbs to plant this autumn

Wash out flower pots and seed traysTrim back ivy, Virginia creeper and other climbers on walls that are close to gutters and window framesTest the pH of your soil with a kit and add lime if it's too acidicScoop leaves and debris from ponds and water

over ponds or water features to stop autumn leaves falling inBuy spring bulbs for autumn plantingOrder bare rooted roses, shrubs, fruit trees and hedging to plant over the coming monthsBrush away fungi and mushrooms growing on lawnsBuild a leaf bin out

Collect leaves as they fall and store in a wire bin or plastic bag to make leaf-mould Leave out sunflower seed heads for the birds to feed onCollect sprinklers, drip-feed systems and other watering kit to store in the shed over winterSprinkle grass

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

in the shed over winterBuild log piles to provide winter hibernation sites for insects and small animalsCheck tree ties and loosen any that are too tightWrap insulation around outdoor taps and water pipesOrder bare-rooted hedging for winter planting