Fiann Ó Nualláin's tips for gardening

* Between flooding, the new storm season and the too-cold-to-move-your-fingers weather, many of us are lagging behind. But no harm, the garden will catch up.

So weed removal and preparing seed beds or composting/manuring plots for crops is a good start.

* That said, be diligent on the last- chance front – this weekend is traditionally the absolute last chance to winter prune, (that includes apples, pears, red/white currants, gooseberries medlars and quinces and also autumn-fruiting raspberries).

* Now is also time to be vigilant to pests and problems. Start back with slug controls this weekend, and if you have an issue in the past, then also with mice controls around stored vegetables.

Also, net against foxes if you’ve clamped vegetables in the ground. Nets too for pigeons unless you have Dastardly and Muttley on speed dial.

* I do a lot of no-dig gardening but once there is a frost on the horizon I will dig over my potato plot to expose any soil pests to the cold.

If you have had pests in a spot, a turn in the evening will turn the tables on them overnight.

* Keep up successional sowing, planning your crop rotations and if no one is looking, a pint of pee on the compost heap will go a long way to kick-starting it into productive temperatures and bacterial action.

I say when nobody is looking — but if you’re intent on being a youtube sensation don’t let me stop you.