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Take cuttings from tender perennials and bedding plants, such as verbenaSow a few pots of hardy annuals to provide early spring blooms Shade delicate plants to avoid sun scorch on hot daysDeal with vine weevil by watering pots with a solution

Raise the cutting height of your lawn mower and continue composting clippingsWash out and top up bird baths regularlyStretch netting over ponds and water features to prevent autumn leaves blowing inWater houseplants less frequently and move them off

Clean and sharpen pruning toolsRepair and treat fencing and timber structures while climbing plants are dormantBring all watering equipment indoors, including hoses and sprinklersWrap insulation around outside taps and cut off the water supply

by blackspot or rustSet up automatic watering systems for potted plants when going on holidayTop up water levels in ponds and aquatic featuresAround the gardenDeadhead flowers of lady's mantleWater camelliasBuy bulbs for autumn plantingFlowersPick plums

, grass clippings Multi-purpose compost or peat-free alternativeWater-retaining gel, 9cm plastic potSlow-release fertiliserMay - JuneJuly - SeptemberProp the basket on a bucket and line it with moist grass clippings. To help retain moisture add a layer

curl Water pot plants sparingly and avoid wetting foliage. Never leave plants standing in waterRegularly pick off faded leaves and flowers to avoid grey mould (botrytis) developing

Fix nesting boxes for birds to suitable trees around your gardenService petrol lawn mowers and power toolsKeep indoor azaleas well-watered with rainwaterMake fat cakes and hang them among roses to encourage bluetits to feed off overwintering pests

A heron was morosely inspecting the murky green water of Peckham Rye pond. It stood slightly away from the path, so ignored the passing dogs and my children throwing breadcrumbs to the ducks. I wondered what it could possibly be fishing for in what

. Wind can scorch leaves as well as sun (and we’ve certainly had plenty of wind in Hampshire). Heavy rain and hail will also damage plants, peppering leaves and flowers with tiny shot marks.To make matters worse, water droplets on foliage can magnify

Water adds a new dimension to any garden and our pond-in-a-pot is the ideal place to grow miniature waterlilies and other small aquatic plants. This idea is quick and easy to make and requires minimal care. The larger the container, the more