NO-FEAR GARDENING PART 6: KEEPING IT SHIPSHAPE

As it's not such a busy time of year in the garden, late autumn is ideal for tackling easy maintenance and tidying jobs – Frances Tophill shows you how

- By Frances Tophill

November is the month when the garden really stops growing. There are mild autumnal days, but when the temperature consistently drops, plant growth all but ceases. Sad as this may seem, it does present a welcome opportunity to catch up on the things we've neglected when the plants demanded all our attention.

There's no need to be too tidy though – leave old, faded plant material in borders if you can, as it provides habitat and foraging opportunities for the creatures who live in the garden. But do clean any bird baths after the leaves have dropped.

The neglected corners, piles of pots, sheds, greenhouses and patios that have seen good use over recent months can now be cleared out, organised, tidied and cleaned, ready for next year. Under glass and in sheds this is especially important, to provide a comfortable, tidy place for us to spend time during the colder months, and it can also help to reduce pest infestations next year. Creatures like red spider mites can be reduced or removed by cleaning and clearing out old plant debris and compost.

The patio is a place that tends to gather clutter because it's used so much over the warmer months. Clearing it now gives you the chance to do two key tasks that often get neglected during the summer. The first is preserving wooden garden furniture – oiling and protecting it from winter weather increases its life expectancy, as does mending any broken or damaged parts before they get beyond repair. The second task is weeding between paving or bricks to keep the patio looking good and accessible.

OILING WOODEN FURNITURE