WITH the temperature dropping, winter is now setting in and so it's time to finish clearing up the garden.

One important job is to rake up the many leaves in order to keep good hygiene and to prevent diseases. It's also a good way of getting rid of the hiding spaces used by pests such as slugs and snails.

Clear away any garden debris and cut down any herbaceous perennials on planting beds.

Dig over beds incorporating farmyard manure or compost to keep your soil aerated and free draining, which will benefit the plants in the next growing season.

You can keep the dug-over soil rough this time of year so the frost and winter weather can break down the soil. In the spring it can be dug over again and prepared for planting.

Take care of any outdoor pots, as not all pots are frost resistant, so store them away, or wrap them up or move them to a sheltered position. I'd also store away hosepipes to prevent them freezing.

During this time of the year you could continue planting of trees, conifers, evergreen shrubs while soil conditions are still manageable and not hard from frost.

As the days are getting shorter, it's time to check your garden security. Automatic movement detecting security lights are a great way of deterring intruders from your garden, although do make sure that the lights aren't directed into neighbours' houses.

Make sure that your garden tools are out of sight and locked up safely while they're not used.

This is a good time to check that your garden shed is strong enough and that doorframes and walls are solid with no rotting areas that can be broken into.

Check, oil, and if necessary, replace any rusted locks with good strong padlocks. Secure garden furniture by using anchoring devices or chaining them together with a strong chain and padlock. Secure your garden ornaments or pots with some form of anchoring devices, and protect hanging baskets by fixing them up with security brackets.

Check that your garden gates and fences are strong and secure and up to the job and if more protection is required then plant a row of prickly or thorny shrubs such as the Pyracantha around the garden this will help keep out intruders. Visit my website at www.gardendesigner.co.uk