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featuresRemove pond pumps and filters to wash and storeLook out for special offers on early orders from seed cataloguesWrap outside taps with insulation to prevent them freezingTreat fences and timber structures with stain or preservativeWelcome in the new

Protect you plants from the cold weather and wrap half-hardy bananas, palms, cannas and ginger lilies in fleece and straw if they grow in sheltered positions. Alternatively lift the plants, pot or crate them up and bring into a frost-free greenhouse

'm in trouble. Compost heaps can be encouraged to break down in winter with a covering of thick insulation, such as a layer of cardboard, carpet or even an old duvet. Compost bins can be wrapped up - they will look ridiculous but at least they'll produce compost

.AdamDampen the greenhouse floor, not the plants. Water dripping onto leaves encourages fungal disease, while water splashed onto fruit can ruin its appearance.More on greenhouses and plant careFitting an automatic vent opener for your greenhouseUsing bubble wrap

Harvest globe artichokesStake tall Brussels sprouts to stop them from blowing overDig up chicory roots, cut off their tops and re-pot for forcing, to grow on in a dark shedWrap grease bands around the trunks of apples, pears, cherries and plums to trap

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

in frosty weatherWrap pots with sacking or insulating material to protect the roots of plantsMake last-minute stocking fillers from collected seedheads saved into pretty envelopesPick evergreen foliage for indoor decorations, storing in water in a porch

-summer-flowering clematisDivide congested perennials after floweringPlant bare-rooted rosesFlowersWrap grease bands around fruit trees Plant out garlic or start growing cloves in potsClear away old crops and dig over the groundFruit & vegInsulate your greenhouse Bring

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