timely tasks

l If you've been clearing away healthy plants from growing bags use the old compost as a garden mulch, or soil conditioner. If you happen to find this material is full of roots add it to the compost heap first to allow everything to break down properly before putting it into the garden

l When planting your containers make sure they have adequate drainage to prevent waterlogging over the winter. This can be further improved by keeping them off the ground - sit them on bricks, or use terracotta feet

l This is a good time to prune back rambling roses by cutting the flowering stems to ground level and tying in new rods. Should you find that you only have a few new shoots, keep some of the old stems, cutting the laterals back to two or three buds