December is the time to...

BRASSICAS: Dig in well-rotted manure over what will be next year's brassica bed. Dig over the rest of the plot to open up compacted ground.

BROAD BEANS: Cut the tops from broad beans being grown as a green manure crop and dig them in.

CHICKENS: If you have chickens, let them roam over your veg plot now. They will pick over the soil, removing pests and young weeds, while adding fertiliser at the same time.

COMPOST: Turn the compost in your bin, or bins, to allow air into the mixture and speed up the rotting process.

FRUIT AND VEG: Examine all fruit and veg that you have in storage and remove any at the first sign of deterioration.

GRAPEVINES: Prune grapevines, taking all sideshoots coming from the main framework back to two buds. Repair any broken support wires.

LEEKS AND PARSNIPS: Dig a trench and store leeks and parsnips in it in case of very frosty weather, which will prevent you from lifting the crops in the ground.

SAND AND SOIL: Spread sand on any part of your plot where the soil does not drain well.

SEED POTATOES: Place seed potatoes into trays to chit, then place the trays under staging in a frost-free spot.

WEEDING: Tidy your plot, and weed pathways and under fruit trees and bushes.

You can sow peas, broad beans and onions now

ONIONS: We sow the varieties 'Ailsa Craig' 'Lancastrian' and 'Mammoth' in modules.

PEAS: We also sow 'Douce Provence' into a length of guttering, which makes it easy to transplant the whole row into the garden come spring.

POTTED EDIBLES: Remove yellow leaves from potted carrots, lettuce and parsley.

SEED CATALOGUES: Choose the varieties you'd like to grow next year from the seed catalogues and place your order.

WATERING: Do this lightly, as required, ensuring nothing gets waterlogged.

BULBS: Plant a good variety of spring-flowering bulbs, both to brighten up the first part of the season and to provide insects with food early in the year.

COMPOST BINS: Save money and build a compost bin (or three) if you don't have one already. The ideal position for them is out of sight, but not too far from the kitchen.

CONSERVATORY PLANTS: Water sparingly as required. Deadhead and remove older leaves regularly.

DECIDUOUS TREES: Remove any branches which rub or cross each other. Shorten those that are too long and cut out any diseased wood.

GARDEN FURNITURE: Either bring indoors, if you have space in a shed or garage, or cover securely to protect from winter weather. Now is a great time to treat any timber or metalwork.

HERBACEOUS: Sow seeds of herbaceous plants into modules under glass.

LAWNS: Protect the lawn from damage in wet weather by keeping traffic across it to a minimum. You can use roll-out walkways to make temporary paths over grass you need to cross on a regular basis.

PONDS: Check netting placed over ponds. If leaves aren't collected regularly, the weight of them can force the net into the water, where the rotting leaves become toxic.

SHREDDED MATERIAL: Spread shredded garden material beneath plants in the borders. As this rots it will feed the plants and help to keep weeds down in spring.

WISTERIA: Prune by taking each lateral shoot back to two or three buds to encourage a good display next year.