JOBS TO DO THIS WEEK
■ Take a walk through your garden and see what seeds or berries are available to collect and keep for spring sowings.
■ Not everything needs to be tidied up – a pile of leaves can make a cosy bed for a hedgehog this winter.
■ Have you got all your garden furniture indoors or covered up for the winter? In the garage, these can be cleaned or rubbed with oil as necessary or even painted.
■ Acers and birches which need pruning should be done now to avoid risk of bleeding – their sap rises early so don’t leave it until spring. In general they don’t need any pruning but if there is a branch that is in an awkward position, or is diseased, now is the time to give it the chop.
■ Vines can be pruned hard, back to two buds of last year’s growth, to encourage fruiting spurs.
■ Retailers are discounting bulbs now so try to grab a few and get them in the ground.