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.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 weedsAround the gardenSave seed from ornamental annual quaking grassWater camellias regularlySummer prune

thoroughly until water starts to run out of the bottom of the pot.Plants can be fed with a soluble fertiliser added to the watering can. Orchid fertiliser is available from most garden centres, or use a general-purpose feed at half strength every third

Sow seeds of cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers to raise summer cropsWater compost with a suitable pesticide where vine weevils have been discoveredSow summer bedding plants, such as petunias, geranium, verbena and busy LizzieTake cuttings

to supports to prevent them flopping overScatter granular fertiliser around the base of roses, shrubs, perennials and hedges, and water in thoroughly if rain does not fall over the next week

, shady etc). Then, either take a list of plants you want to buy to a specialist nursery or garden centre, and make sure what you're buying is native, non-invasive, and sourced in a sustainable fashion, or try one of the following suppliers:Beaver Water

The huge bulbs of hippeastrum already have the flowerbud inside, so they couldn't be simpler to grow. All you need to do is pot it up, water thoroughly and stand the hippeastrum in a well-lit place to enjoy its spectacular blooms. Hippeastrum bulb

failed again).The temperature has been so high during the day that I’ve had to remove the lids from two propagators, to prevent them from ‘boiling’ the seedlings. I keep a couple of watering cans close by, as the plants are guzzling water

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

Heliotropum arborescens 'Butterfly Blue' x 4Nemesia caerulea x 4French lavender, Lavandula stoechas x 440cm plastic-coated wire basketMulti-purpose compostWool basket liningSlow release fertiliserWater-retaining gelPlace a layer of wool or alternative lining in the bottom

I know that gardeners in other areas of the country have been blessed with proper, sustained downpours, but no such luck here. My only experience of rain in recent weeks was during a (very enjoyable) visit to Garden Show Ireland at Hillsborough