In The Flower Garden

• Plant crocuses, fritillaries and dwarf narcissus in lawns
• Plant up patio pots for autumn interest
• Lift gladioli, clean the corms and store them in a shed or garage
• Prune rambling and climbing roses, and shorten long shoots on standard roses
• Plant spring bedding, including wallflowers and forget-me-nots, among tulips
• Lift, divide and replant congested clumps of perennials
• Net holly berries to protect them from hungry birds if you want them for Christmas arrangements
• Plant lily bulbs, including fragrant Lilium regale, in groups among low shrubs to bloom next summer
• Move shrubs that are growing in the wrong places

In The Fruit and Vegetable Garden

• Make a cross-cut in cabbage stems when harvesting to encourage a further crop
• Sow broad beans for early crops next May and June
• Put cloches over tender herbs like basil and coriander
• Pot up mint, chives and parsley to keep on a bright window sill
• Sow green manure crops such as field beans and grazing rye
• Plant garlic and autumn onion sets
• Cover endive to blanch the leaves
• Dig up and pot up roots of chicory for winter forcing
• Pick apples and pears before the wind blows them down
• Finish pruning blackberries and autumn-fruiting raspberries

In The Greenhouse

• Bring aeoniums and other tender succulents under cover for winter
• Empty begonia tubers from pots, clean off the compost and store somewhere dark and dry
• Water plants more sparingly now conditions are getting cooler
• Wash off all shade paint and remove blinds and shade netting
• Sow sweet peas for early flowers next summer
• Clear out old crops in pots and growing bags, adding them to the compost heap
• Bring pots of late-flowering chrysanthemums under cover
• Line the inside of your greenhouse with bubble polythene
• Check heaters are working efficiently
• Water potted azaleas with rainwater, keeping the compost constantly moist

Around The Garden

• Use a fork or hollow-tined aerator to spike your lawn and improve drainage
• Dig up and pot up tender perennials to bring indoors for winter protection
• Raise the cutting height when mowing the lawn
• Apply an autumn lawn food
• Cover ponds with netting to stop leaves falling in
• Remove pumps and filters from ponds and water features
• Empty ceramic and glazed pots to store under cover for winter
• Collect fallen leaves smothering alpines and other plants
• Order roses, hedging and fruit trees for winter planting
• Retrieve plant supports from flower beds, clean and store away

Happy Gardening. If you want more ramblings on gardening from click here.

Andrew