Gardening with Pat Duke: Time to protect the garden from what winter may throw at it

If you want to sleep soundly when the winds are battering the bedroom windows and you can hear the rain gushing into your water butts, then now is the time to protect the garden from all that will be thrown at it between now and February.

I often think that doing this is timesaving given the number of times you’ll be out there fixing things after the event.

I once had to take down a greenhouse where the windows had been glued in with bathroom sealant, but that might be going a bit far.

Stake vulnerable plants that need it and tie them in well to protect the roots.

Dump a spade load or two of mulch over the dahlias and begonias. If you’re leaving them in the ground, you can repeat this over the coming months.

The grass will still need a cut and the cuttings are always good for this purpose.

If you’re of a nervous disposition you could lift the tubers and keep them indoors in some decent compost until late spring. Mark where you took them from as a reminder.

Pull out dead and bedraggled looking leaves from herbaceous plants and remove them to the now-empty compost heap. It’s surprising how soon it will fill up again with leaves, apples and grass cuttings.

If you’re still missing the more creative side of gardening then there’s still time to plant tulips and spring bulbs if you’re quick.

I've still got three brown paper bags with tulips in staring at me from the dining room table. There’s a Mexican/Devonian stand-off between my wife and me about who will put them in eventually. (I know it will be me)

You could plant desert candles, Eremurus, at the back of the bed to spiral upwards. Plant them quite shallow just below the surface on a layer of grit or sharp sand. They don’t like wet feet very much so this will help drainage. They can be brittle to handle and you ll need to position them in a starfish shape so be careful.

They are well worth the effort and will give you late spring fireworks while not much is in full flower in the border. Just don’t get too attached to them as you can easily become addicted to the different cultivars.

On the plot

Choose a sunny, well-drained position to prepare a bed for asparagus planting in early spring. If it’s heavy soil you can add sand, grit and especially wood ash.

Asparagus really dislike weeds and just refuse to fatten up if they have to compete. Add as many nutrients as you can in the form of compost and manure so they feel at home once they’re planted.

Asparagus is worth the effort, especially if you just want a couple of handfuls as this amount just means keeping them clear and well fed. Doing this over a large bed can be hard work and therefore less enjoyable.

Pull away any Brussel sprouts that are brown and soggy so you just have smaller shiny green buds ready for you know what.

While it’s still very mild, and on dry days, make an effort to spend time in the garden with a mug of tea and wait for ideas to float to the surface.

Even if they don’t, you’re guaranteed to at least feel more relaxed and attuned to the garden and everything else that inhabits your special place.

You might want to think about helping the flora and fauna through the winter as well as the plants.

Putting up a bird table or a few nest boxes now will attract garden helpers in a few months' time.

Gardening in this way not only makes it easier but assisting nature is always a good thing and doing even a small amount brings positive change for us and them.