Jobs for the week
Proper path
Kill weeds on patios, drives and paths otherwise they may become slippery and dangerous.
Pathclear will kill existing weeds and prevent germination of seedlings for up to three months.
Poppy crop
Take root cuttings from your oriental poppies.
Excavate the soil from the edges to expose the roots. Cut off a few thick, healthy roots, trim them into 7cm pieces and insert vertically into pots of gritty compost and cover with a thin layer of compost.
Stand them in a cold frame for the winter and pot on when new shoots emerge in spring.
Feel the force
Cover Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, with a cloche to stop mud spoiling the blooms and to force flower buds to open.
That way they can be cut and arranged in time for the Christmas table.