Flowers at this time of year are mostly annuals and can make a good splash of colour when planted and maintained correctly, though damage from wind and salt spray can have a negative effect on future growth. Selection is therefore important when considering location; use low growing types in more “exposed” areas and taller types in protected areas; always check the plants for pests and disease and ensure they are well rooted but not long and drawn. Growth in general has slowed somewhat, especially after hurricane season, which obviously hit the flowering potential of annuals and shrubby plants. But the recent warm weather (this week excluded) has encouraged some additional flowering. At this late stage in the year it is unlikely that new growth will continue and be strong enough to make a statement with the result that the summer’s growth has started to harden up for the ‘winter’ season.As the Festive Season approaches with all its surrounding activities, December in the garden is more often than not a “tidy up” exercise. This includes, if needed, a light tipping of lawns so as not to remove too much leaf blade; checking for pest and disease problems with immediate action if found. This is especially the case on poinsettias that are planted in the garden as caterpillars can munch through a plant in double time if given the chance. General cleaning tasks should continue around the garden, especially raking up of fallen foliage and removal of any damaged branches from Hurricane Sean. Debris left lying around can be a host for pest and diseases to multiply and spread when they become active.This is also a good time to walk the property and make a checklist of work to be carried out in the new year, which is the quietest and best time to tackle out of season tasks. Such tasks normally consist of hard landscaping areas, broken pavers, loose bricks, fixing fencing etc. One major problem I have noted of late is the number of especially Bermuda stone walls being cracked by root systems; this has been a problem waiting to happen when large trees and shrubs with strong root systems have been planted too close to walls. This happens owing to poor preparation, i.e., small planting holes, lack of soil depth and sometimes no drainage holes in the wall. When repairing the same, check all surrounding areas to locate possible further damage from roots and remove potential roots as far back from the wall as possible. If too many roots are posing a problem and the removal of same could damage the stability of the tree, assess the long term problem and whether total removal is the answer.December is a good time to clean tools and service equipment; if tools are old and not in good condition, consider replacing them and give out a list in time for Christmas!If you are considering a present for someone who has a garden, buy for a specific purpose. Secateurs (hand pruners) are a valuable asset in any garden as pruning is a constant in any garden. For the best cut, I would recommend an anvil type and blade which, if maintained, gives a good clean finish. Telescopic pruners are an excellent tool for pruning high up in difficult areas with the telescopic range of pruners reaching up to 15 feet or more contingent on the model. Telescopic chain saws are also a good buy for those people with mature gardens, saving a lot of climbing and ladder use.Blowers are in my opinion one of the worst inventions as I have yet to see a gardening service actually blow everything into one pile then actually pick it up and remove same; consider buying a blower vacuum or simply a small garden vacuum for clearing away leafy material. For properties with long hedges kept at a height of six feet-plus, consider one of the new fangled ladders which can be made into a flat top for working distances of several feet at a time before moving to the next area to cut. For weeding, the Dutch Hoe is a great tool especially if used regularly on clean soil simply to break the surface and thus destroy germinating weed growth; it also reduces back pain as it has a long handle and is simply a ‘tool that is pushed’ whereas most hoes are short handled and used in a chopping motion.Lawn edging shears have long handles with cutting blades at right angles to the handles, which make edging a snip and gives a nice clean finish and keeps edge straight; a far better finish than using the strimmer!For smaller but very useful gifts check out hose end connectors for applying (liquid) fertiliser via garden hose, a great way to water plants and feed them at the same time. Fertiliser application on lawns can be a haphazard exercise at the best of times, but using a calibrated spreader drop or broadcast gives an even distribution and a healthier lawn.For the larger property consider purchasing a small chipper and compost garden debris, when ‘broken down’ into humus recycle into the flower beds, a saving from trucking the material away and purchasing the same from a nursery to incorporate the same product back in the beds.So clean up the garden, tend the annuals, check out the tool shed and enjoy the festive season, then get ready to do it all over again in 2012!!griffm[AT]northrock.bm