Into Autumn...

• Continue to take cuttings of most half-hardy or tender perennials such as fuchsias, salvias and pelargoniums, as well as semi-ripe cuttings of woody shrubs such as rosemary and lavender

• As early flowering annuals begin to fade, choose a warm, dry day to collect seed and store in paper envelopes or pouches made from folded kitchen paper

• Fill in any gaps in the garden with spring bedding such as pansies, forget-me-nots and bellis, or with spring-flowering bulbs

• October is still a good time to divide congested clumps of many perennials after they have finished flowering, and if they have recovered from the summer drought.   Dig up, divide, replant, and water-in well. The warmth of the soil will mean they will re-establish quickly. If the clump is very large it is usually best to only take new plants from the edge and discard the older, woody centre

• When frosts do hit the garden, don't be in too much of a hurry to clear faded plants.  Old stems provide overwintering havens for many beneficial insects and will usually provide some extra protection for the crown or lower stems

• Make space for winter bedding or early flowering snowdrops and crocuses, but also think about how attractive some dead stems and skeletons of old flowerheads can be when painted with frost

• In the vegetable garden and greenhouse, continue to harvest as soon as fruits are ripe

• If you are growing pumpkins or squash, trim away any leaves that are covering the fruit so that the sun can harden the skins before harvesting.  

• Winter onions and garlic (hardneck) can be planted now, but not in the same location as the previous crop - ideally, rotate vegetable beds on a three- or four-year cycle: Onions and Roots > Potatoes > Brassicas > Legumes

• Lawns may need some autumn maintenance.  Scarify to remove thatch, aerate, and apply a lawn feed suitable for autumn application (low nitrogen, high potassium) as well as addressing weeds with selective herbicides if required.  New areas of grass should be sown now, or thin areas of lawn raked and overseeded.

• Many hardy annuals such as cornflower, Ammi, and sweet peas can also be sown now for an early display next summer, or perhaps sow a patch of wildflowers, but choose the right seed mix for your soil type and aspect (light, moisture, etc.)

• Dahlia and Begonia tubers should be lifted once the top foliage has turned black with the first frosts of October. Lift carefully to avoid damaging the tubers, trim off the dead foliage, label, then store in dry sand or compost in a cool, frost-free place.  Alternatively, apply a thick layer of mulch over the plants in situ to protect the tubers from frost.

• Catalogues and websites for seeds, bulbs, and bare-rooted shrubs are available now so start planning how to make your garden even more spectacular but remember to enjoy what you have now