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farmyard manure or other composted green wasteUse cloches to protect winter peas, beans and saladsLift and pot up chicory roots to force chiconsPlant new fruit trees, bushes and cane fruitsBring potted bay trees under cover if conditions turn very cold

-sown sweet peas to promote bushier growthBring pots or glasses of prepared hyacinths indoors to flowerProtect potted peach trees from winter rain and peach leaf curl by bringing under cover

I’m going to plant my bulbs earlier this year, to avoid disturbing any hibernating creatures in colder weather. I've just bought 20 winter aconites, 20 Nectaroscordum siculum, and the Gardeners’ World magazine offers: 100 free alliums and 160

planting.Blackcurrant bush, e.g. 'Ben Sarek'ForkSpadeCompostGeneral fertiliser such as blood, fish and boneSecateursautumn and winter45 minutesChoose an open and sunny site. Fork over a wide area of ground, then dig a hole deep enough to accommodate

Although, in some areas, dahlia tubers have survived the recent mild winters outside, it's well worth lifting and storing them. Discover how you can ensure a bumper crop of dahlias for next summer, whatever the weather.SecateursGarden fork

Insulate your greenhouse with a layer of bubble wrap and give your plants a helping hand through winter. Your greenhouse will have fewer draughts and will also benefit from lower bills if you use a heater during the very cold months.Measuring tape

onions than you need and string them up to see you through the winter. Leave your bulbs to dry out thoroughly before you string them, by laying them out and leaving them in the sun for a few days. If it's raining, lay them on trays in a warm, dry place

-magnesium carbonate to the soil in autumn or winter to remedy the deficiency for next year.potatoes, apples, cherries, grape vines, tomatoes, camellias, rhododendronssummer, autumn, winterMore common plant problemsCanna virusRaspberry nutrient deficiencyHollyhock rust

. It spreads by sprouting from thick, woody rhizomes, and can grow 1.2m in one season. Winter is the only time of year that offers a reprieve, but for the rest of the year it's a plant that needs tough handling as soon as it appears. This weed is especially

-munching sort - are disappearing. They have started to slow down and go off for their winter hibernation (presumably so that they can save energy ready to attack my plants again next spring with an increased fervour!).Now I may be a fool, but not fool enough