In The Flower Garden

• Plant heathers and trailing ivy in pots for winter colour
• Cut down faded stems on rudbeckia and Shasta daisies, to just above soil level
• Finish planting tulips as soon as possible
• Clear golden hop, sweet peas and annual climbers from supports. If they are still in flower and do not look too bad leave them a while longer
• Check variegated shrubs for plain green shoots and prune them away
• Plant out wallflowers, forget-me-nots, pansies and other spring bedding
• Fork over vacant areas of soil
• Deadhead pansies regularly to keep the flowers coming
• Plant lily-of-the-valley

Fruit and Vegetable Garden

• Clear away climbing beans, then pull up, clean and store away canes and supports
• Plant new fruit trees and bushes
• Check fruits in storage and remove any showing signs of rot
• Pot up leafy herbs to bring on to a window sill and use in winter
• Sow hardy varieties of broad beans and peas under cloches
• Dig up and compost old summer crops
• Source bags of composted green waste from local authorities to spread onto veg beds over winter
• Plant out autumn onion sets and garlic
• Take hardwood cuttings from fruit bushes, including black, white and red currants
• Tidy strawberry beds, removing unwanted runners, old leaves and developing weeds
• Order hedging for winter planting

In The Greenhouse

• Keep pelargoniums looking good into winter by picking over spent flower heads and tatty leaves
• Clean glazing to let in the maximum amount of light
• Wash pots and trays
• Clear fallen leaves from gutters
• Plant lilies in pots
• Clear old plants from the greenhouse border and dig in fresh compost
• Plant dwarf irises, hyacinths and crocuses in pots
• Remove faded leaves and flowers from plants to prevent grey mould spreading
• Ventilate greenhouses on warm days but close vents at night
• Cover poinsettias to give them at least 14 hours of complete darkness

Generally Around the Garden

• Move worm compost bins under cover for winter
• Empty glazed and ceramic pots that aren’t frost-proof and move under cover
• Order loads of farmyard manure or mushroom compost to use over winter
• Cut down marginal plants surrounding ponds
• Check piles of rubbish before starting bonfires to ensure a hedgehog hasn’t set up residence
• Mow lawns on dry days with the blades on a high setting
• Wrap outside taps with insulation material to prevent them freezing
• Spread compost from old growing bags on to outdoor beds to fork in over winter
• Send off for mail-order seed catalogues and start preparing your planting wish list

Have a great week in the garden

Andrew