Pot up Amaryllis hippeastrum for spring flowering in 6 inch pots of John Innes No 2 compost. Bury only the lower half of each bulb then water sparingly until flower buds appear.

In the greenhouse most plants, except those actually in flower, must be kept fairly dry, but don't allow them to dry out to the extent that the compost begins to shrink from the sides of the pot. Yellowing and drooping leaves are a sign of either over - or underwaterig. Check this by taking the plant out of the pot and inspecting the roots. If the rootball is saturated, place it on a pile of newspapers before returning it to the pot and the newspapers will absorb a very large percentage of the moisture.

Make regular examinations of stored Dahlia tubers and get rid of any that are shrivelling or rotting.

Check all containers planted with spring-flowering plants. Cut off yellowing leaves, which is a common problem on Polyanthus and Primroses, and remove dead flowers using a pair of scissors.

Even in winter, containers may dry out rapidly as a result of wind, so keep a close look-out when this happens.

Begin pruning apple trees as soon as the leaves have all fallen. Try to create an open tree with well-spaced branches that will grow and fruit for many years. First of all, take out any dead, broken or diseased branches, and then get rid of any that have spread too far or are causing overcrowding in the centre of the tree. A winter wash (tar oil) provides protection against many of the worst fruit pests - greenfly, apple and pear sucker and winter moth as it destroys the overwintering larvae and eggs. It also kills moss and algae that have built up on trunks and branches. The wash must be used only when the trees and bushes are completely dormant.

Now is the time to have your lawnmower cleaned, serviced and sharpened for, if you wait until next year, everyone will have the same idea and you will have to join the queue to have the work done. You can of course do the job yourself and at the same time clean and oil other tools.

Christmas will soon be with us, so call into Sunnyside and organise presents for the gardener in your life; beautiful plants, flowers, garden equipment or, if you're not sure, why not buy a garden gift voucher - the gift that's always welcome!