What you need to do this month to keep your garden looking beautiful - read on!

• Clear away perennials foliage - perennials that have finished flowering will need to be cut down. This not only keeps your garden looking tidy, but it helps to stop the spread of garden diseases.

• Cut back deciduous grasses - now is the time to cut back deciduous ornamental grasses.

• Clean patios - pressure wash your patios and paving to keep them looking smart, as well as preventing them becoming slippery. 

• Clear ponds - keep ponds healthy by removing fallen leaves and algae. If left this can cause the water to go brown and smelly. 

• Clear fallen leaves - remove fallen leaves from around the base of plants to prevent disease; warm damp areas are great for fungal growth. Removing leaves from your lawn also keeps it healthy by allowing light and air to it. 

• Plant bulbs in the green - your local garden centre will now be stocking bulbs that are in the green (growing in a pot). These can be planted out in your garden ready for a spring display.

• Clear weeds - weeding is an ongoing task, but keeping on top of this makes the job much easier. Removing smaller weeds regularly is much easier than when they become more established.

• Winter pruning - now is the time to winter prune your shrubs and fruit trees.

• Clear fallen snow - snow may be beautiful, but when left on the top of hedges and trees it can actually damage the plant. Gently remove the snow with a brush.

I hope you have found this checklist useful to keep your garden looking its best this month. Happy gardening!