GARDENING: Brian Kidd has your weekend jobs sorted

Don't let the lawn be spoilt because of early leaf fall. The best way to pick up a light covering of leaves is to mow the grass and the leafy bits help the grass to compost. With a bit of luck, this is the last time we shall have to cut hedges, so let's get it done and out of the to-do list. If you have an allotment, try to get some digging done. Remove weeds and leave the soil in clods to weather. Incorporate manure for potatoes, peas and beans. If you are on clay Warwick's farm shop at Wickham have potting grit ideal to scatter over clay, an inch or two over the top will do the trick. Buy alpine plants for a cold empty greenhouse. They won't mind a few missing side glass panes. Have you struggled all summer with an erratic lawnmower? It won't be long before the DIY shops will have clearance sales. You can't take your money with you, so why not spend it and enjoy it. Plant out Brompton stocks about 8 inches apart, these bloom in between spring and early summer when there is very little else in flower and they are perfumed too. Plant a camellia, these accommodating plants start to flower in late winter. Choose one with plump terminal buds, these are the flower buds. Plant somewhere so that the morning sun won't damage the blooms in frosty weather. A good container plant too, use an ericaceous mix. Plant tubers of the autumn flowering cyclamen, Cyclamen hederaefolium. These are often seen 'loose' in boxes at garden centres. They enjoy light shade, simply plant the tuber half it's depth in moistened soil.'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹