Weekend Work: Time to prune blackberries

What to do

Prune out old stems of cultivated blackberries and tie new stems to supports ready for the next season's crop.

Take hardwood cuttings of currants and gooseberries from vigorous, healthy stock plants.

Plant conifers and hedges of evergreens as soon as possible so that they can make new roots quickly. If you can't get them in quickly, wait until Easter and plant then.

The last cut of the lawn year is looming. Do not cut too close for this last cut and pick up the cuttings.

Plant tulips. There are still plenty on sale in garden centres. My list this year includes 'Cardinal Mindszenty'. It is a showy double early variety with full white flowers. I'm also growing 'Palestrina' again, a Single Late pink tulip with quite a lot of green flaring up the back of the petals, more pronounced on the outer ones. It generally flowers in late April.

What to see

Taste of Autumn festivals are taking place this weekend at all four of the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens. Go to Harlow Carr in N Yorkshire, Hyde Hall in Essex, Rosemoor in Devon or Wisley in Surrey for apple tastings, food stalls, grow-your own advice and a blaze of autumn colour. The gardens are open today and tomorrow from 10am-4pm (except for Rosemoor which opens 10am-3pm). For more information go to rhs.org.uk/gardens