It has indeed been a fabulous summer, but now with my Aga back on, looking out of my window, I fear it is my poor lawn that has been the biggest victim with extra wear and tear from barbecues and impromptu rounder’s matches.

First, I'll scarify by rake, removing thatch (dead moss and debris), this also lightly teases and loosens the soil surface to allow water to penetrate. You can use a powered attachment for your mower for larger lawns.

Then I'll aerate, or spike, with a garden fork, to allow the air and water to get into the root area. This is most useful in areas of heavy traffic as the ground can become very compacted which can cause problems with draining.

A well aerated lawn will manage better in times of drought and waterlogging. Again a powered tool can be used for larger areas. Every two to three years for this task should be adequate.

Lastly I'll apply a feed; the autumn fertilisers differ from spring ones with a nutrient blend low in nitrogen but high in phosphate and potash to toughen up the roots ready for winter. Don’t be tempted to use a spring feed as they contain high levels of nitrogen, which encourages soft, sappy leaf growth, which would make it vulnerable to disease.

Flavour at Your Fingertips

Sometimes a trip to the veg patch/greenhouse can seem to far in the cold winter months, so why not sow some cut-and-come-again salad leaves in containers that you can position somewhere sheltered near the house for late, easy access.

Some salad leaves are specifically designed to be at their best during colder weather, try any of the following: mizuna, mibuna, pak choi & red mustard all thriving on shorter daylight hours but they can become very peppery and hot as the weather turns harsher so harvest them young.