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compost to dig in over winter, or pile onto the soil for the worms to drag underCut down marginal plants surrounding pondsSend off for mail-order seed and perennials cataloguesMow your lawn on a dry day with the blades set highWrap outside taps

Work off Christmas excesses by digging over bare areas of groundPlace cloches over tender plants to give them extra protection from frostSharpen blades on hoes, secateurs and other garden tools, and wipe with an oily rag before storing awayDo a

Make a bird houseA nesting box is a great way of attracting birds into your garden in the spring and summer. It not only gives you the pleasure of watching them but also gives the birds a home close to plenty of garden insects to feast upon. Well

Protect tender plants for winterThe trend for growing exotic looking plants in our gardens means that some of them may need protection from the worst of the winter cold and wet. Wrap half hardy bananas, palms and tree ferns with fleece, straw

over winter, wrap each one in a single sheet of newspaper and place them in single layers on a tray. For a cheap alternative to apple racks, use an old filing tray, adding more layers as you need them.If you have the space and a large apple tree, you

to cut and bend, so a whole clutch of cone hanging baskets can be made in under an hour.1 50cm x 100cm aluminium sheet per cone1.5m of thin galvanised wireFelt pen and stringMetal cutters and a small bradawl50cm x 100cm piece of bubble wrapIvy and ferns

whenever you want them.May - JulyJuly - August30 minutes Herbs, e.g. basil, coriander, chives, rosemary, parsleyWindow boxDrillBubble wrapPolystyrene chipsCompostGrit Slate chippingsDrill holes in the bottom of the container and line the sides with bubble

roughly 8-20cm long.Using the jaws of the work bench to hold each log piece firmly, drill holes for the candles just larger than a tea light, using a 40mm wood drill bit. You could try positioning it off centre, to follow the growth rings in the wood.Wrap

of the greenhouse which faces away from prevailing winds.UPVC greenhouses have lightweight roof vents and may require a stronger vent opener to keep them closed or prevent them being blown away.More greenhouse projectsInsulate your greenhouse with bubble wrap

, such as a shed or conservatory. Choose the best quality bulbs to store - any that are damp and moist should be eaten straight away as they won't store well and will be prone to mould and mildew. Home-grown onionsGarden twine (doubled up)autumn1 hourKnot one