People 'should clean out garden sheds before winter really hits'

16:11:20 24th November 2010

People should take the opportunity to clean out their garden sheds now before the winter weather really hits, a green fingered expert has claimed.

Gardening commentator Graham Porter wrote in his weekly tips column in the Huddersfield Examiner that people should take advantage of one of the year's last sunny days, using it to throw out old compost, broken pots, faulty tools and worn-out gloves.

He went on to say that they should also check that all of their electric tools are functioning correctly.

"Arrange for all electrical and mechanical garden equipment to be checked and serviced now by a professional so that they are safe to use next springtime," Mr Porter writes.

He also recommended now as being a good time of year to remove overhanging, low and badly-positioned branches from deciduous trees.

Those emptying their sheds of unwanted items may also want to consider getting rid of old chemicals, as the Parkes Champion-Post reports people in Parkes Shire, Australia, are being urged to do so.