Clear fallen leaves and other debris so that slugs, snails and other pests have nowhere to winter.

Collect and use fallen leaves to make leafmould.

Sweep leaves off the lawn as soon as possible, for if they are allowed to lie there they will block the light and this will weaken the grass, encouraging disease.

Try to kill as many slugs and snails as you can to reduce the population in your garden over the winter.

If conditions are right - the grass dry and no frost imminent - cut the lawn for the final time this year, and clean and store the lawnmower in the shed or garage.

Plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the garden as soon as possible.

Finish planting winter containers. This will give the plants a chance to get established. Some plastic and terracotta containers are liable to crack if they are left full of compost, for when it freezes compost expands and can break the containers.

In the greenhouse water all the plants in pots very sparingly, and on sunny days ventilate the greenhouse freely, avoiding cold draughts. Close the ventilators early in the afternoon to retain some of the sun's heat. Make sure that all glass is clean. Dirty glass excludes valuable light. Wash it carefully with warm water containing a detergent.

Examine stored begonia corms and dahlia tubers every few weeks during the winter to make sure there is no rot or shrivelling. Remove rotting tubers to prevent them affecting healthy ones.

Bare root trees and fruit bushes can be planted as soon as they are available and the ground is in condition for planting. If plants arrive before you are ready for them they can be "heeled in". This is the gardener's term for digging a shallow trench in a sheltered position and placing the roots of the plants in it. The roots are covered with soil to keep them moist and the soil is firmed down gently. They can stay like this for many weeks. Always plant fruit trees in cultivated ground. When they are well established after a few years they may be grassed down around them. Soft fruit - raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries - are always grown on cultivated land.

Half-hardy fuchsias will generally survive a light frost, but they will need to be brought under cover if they are to survive the winter. If they are brought into the greenhouse, it should be well ventilated as condensation will encourage the onset of grey mould (botrytis) resulting in the death of the plant.

Hybrid tea and floribunda roses should be partially pruned to reduce winter windrock damage. Reduce the length of each shoot by one-third and complete the pruning next spring.