Hopefully, when I sit down to do the March jobs I hope autumn will be treating our gardens with kindness after the long humid summer.

I'll re-cap some of the problems gardeners are still coping with as solutions will be ongoing for quite a few weeks.

Firstly, to roses - did you do a summer prune?

If not, do so quickly as they do need a stimulus - my roses have suffered badly from black spot.

The best solution was copper oxychloride - alternated with Searles Rose Pro that is also an insecticide.

It is important to give the roses a good feed at this time - poultry manure for ground grown roses, followed by rose food. Potted roses will respond to Sudden Impact that can be applied as a boost to all roses during the year.

Grasshoppers this year have been a hot topic.

The solution - and I was desperate - was a mixture of Confidor and Eco Oil. That was only two days ago - I'm watching the results.

Please note: always read the instructions carefully before spraying - for example Confidor can only be used on ornamental citrus and other designated plants, some edibles, but not citrus.

Another example is the newly acclaimed eco-Neem that has the Australian organic registration, although its claim is to kill grasshoppers, it cannot be used on edible plants.

Wow, have lawns suffered this summer.

The lawn pests have raged - not many lawns remain untouched.

Keep applying products suitable to eliminate grubs, crickets and beetles.

It will help to spray every 10 days and also alternating products.

Applying on mown lawn late in the afternoon is also advised.

I'd recommend lightly applying a lawn top dressing to bare patches and watering in Searles Flourish for Green Growth that can be used in a hose-on-applicator. Apply this every 7-14 days before winter.