Make the most of dry days at the weekend and complete routine maintenance tasks.

Check fences for signs of disrepair, and if you need professional help, book early - these days, landscapers have plenty to do all year round!

Clean out gaps in paving and repoint.

Use a systemic weedkiller on pavier drives to halt the spread of grasses and perennial weeds, and check wires supporting climbing plants, replacing if necessary.

Remove fallen leaves from ponds and cover with a fine mesh netting to catch the rest.

Clear debris from greenhouses, unless your tomatoes are still fruiting!

Wash used plastic pots in warm water, using a mild detergent and rinsing in water laced with disinfectant, before storing.

Gather falling leaves in a wire container, to allow them to rot down and become a useful mulch the following year.

Check gutters for fallen leaves, and consider installing a leaf-guard.

Raise outdoor containers on feet to keep them clear of the ground; this helps them survive frosts and aids drainage.

Remove summer bedding plants and replace with winter pansies, Gaultheria procumbens, Skimmia rubella, Hellebores and miniature spring bulbs.

Raise the height of your lawnmower blades before the final cut, so that the grass isn't too short to cope with poor weather to come.

Keep lawn edges neat and tidy, and your garden will look well cared for right through the winter.

Happy Gardening!