Don’t forget the rest of the garden
◾ Make leafmould Clear leaves from the lawn so they don’t simply sit and rot – left on the greensward to decay they will kill out great swathes of grass. Use them, instead, to make leafmould that can be returned to the soil. Rot them down in a wire-netting bin constructed in a corner of the garden. It may take a year or so for the leaves to turn into brown and crumbly soil enrichment, but it will be well worthwhile.
◾ Protect garden furniture Such items can be expensive. If it is sturdy and constructed of teak it can be left where it is, but consider oiling it before the worst of the weather sets in to give it greater protection from the weather. Bring under cover more lightweight chairs and tables, giving them a clean before storing them under a dust cover.
◾ Wash greenhouse panes Greenhouses with dirty glass reduce valuable winter light levels dramatically. While the weather is still mild, empty them of plants, scrub down the glass inside and out, and wash staging and gravel. Give your plants a good picking over to remove faded leaves and flowers, and thus reduce pest and disease attack, then put the plants back inside.
◾ Scrub paving slabs These go green in wet weather. Start off by scrubbing them with a stiff brush and remove stubborn algae with a pressure washer.
◾ Clean timber decking This can be pressure washed to remove slippery algae, and they’ll benefit from an application of timber preservative on a dry day. You will increase its life expectancy by treating it every autumn.
◾ Add a floating ball to ponds This will stop them from completely freezing. Make a bigger hole with boiling water to allow fish to breathe in winter.