In the garden this week: Staking trees and pond care

Stake new trees It's time to buy and plant trees, but don't neglect stakes. You may think trees in the wild don't need stakes, but trees in the wild grow from seedlings, only ever braving as much top growth as their roots can support. A stake holds stems firm, preventing rocking and tearing of young roots. Drive stakes a couple of feet into the ground, to about a third of the way up the tree, and attach with a proper tree tie, which provides a buffer twixt tree and stake. Tend to your pond A pond should never be too tidy, especially now, as creatures settle into its environs for hibernation. Fallen leaves can be left to create cosier spots for critters to crawl into, but remove any that land in the water, as well as decaying waterlily leaves and such like: they'll rot and turn it murky and anaerobic. If it's a fish pond, you should be feeding less and stop by the end of the month. Pumps can come out, be cleaned and stored.