Don’t forget to wrap insulation around your outside garden taps. Wrapping several layers of hessian or lagging material should do the job. The last thing anyone needs is a burst pipe which could affect your household supply, especially on Christmas Day!!

Another good job to tackle if the weather is mild and dry is to treat sheds and fences with preservative. As the majority of plants have died back it makes it easier to get to those harder to reach areas.

If we should get snow this winter, don’t forget to shake off that snow from your shrubs and hedges. The weight of the snow can easily break a branch or two. Conifers planted as specimen trees can be protected by tying a strong twine around them. This stops the branches from opening up if the snow falls.