Do it now

Spread some chicken manure pellets or blood and bone around all of your established plants in garden beds

Cut armfuls of NSW Christmas bush to decorate the house Take the family to your local garden centre to choose a living potted Christmas tree that can be re-used for a number of years

Prune bottlebrush after flowering to prevent the formation of long-lasting woody seed pods

Buy a potted poinsettia for indoor decoration, but remember, if you plant it out in your frost-free garden after Christmas, it will eventually revert to its natural winter-flowering season

Trim the long, whippy shoots from wisteria before they have a chance to latch onto nearby plants

Use a sharp knife to cut paspalum clumps out of the lawn Check trees for sawdust or other signs of borer, which becomes active when trees are under stress

Wear your hat, long sleeves and sunscreen every time you spend time working in the garden

Set up a garden seat in a lovely shady spot so you have somewhere cool to sit and take a break after gardening