Octobers garden chores, have you ticked them off?

Have you got your hands dirty to help wildlife during October? Some tasks can't really wait much longer so here is just a reminder of some of the things that you might need to do before we get into winter proper!

• Cleaning nesting boxes. I did this a couple of weeks ago, I emptied all the material out, give it a wash and brush out, allowed to air-dry and then popped it back into position after a couple of tweaks. It was used by blue tits earlier in the season, no sign of eggs or chicks inside so either they didn't get round to breeding or they all fledged successfully! The only thing I did find in there other than moss and grass was a live red worm, no idea how that got there! A great tit has already been checking out the box so hopefully it will provide a safe roosting site through the winter and maybe a nesting site once again come spring time.

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

• Pond maintenance. If you need to do any tidying of vegetation or minor adjustments to your pond then now is the time to do it before the amphibians start to hibernate. We found a smooth newt heading up the path outside the office this morning, heading for a safe hibernating spot no doubt, but many amphibians will use the deeper water in the pond as a winter refuge. If you do move any plants out of the pond, leave them on the side so any critters can make their way back to the water.
• Leaf piles. Now that many trees are losing their leaves don't be tempted to get rid of them all, rake at least some into a quiet and sheltered corner of the garden as this could become a winter home for hedgehogs, toads and numerous invertebrates. Leaves that have been raked into the borders will shelter invertebrates too allowing birds like robins and blackbirds to toss them over to find food throughout the winter.

Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)

What other wildlife gardening tasks have you been doing this month?

If you are looking for some extra things to do then now is a good time to put up some more boxes for birds, bats and insects as well as planting some shrubs or trees. In my top five for gardens i'd go with the following, what would be in your top five?

1. Hawthorn
2. Hazel
3. Pyracantha
4. Holly
5. Crab apple