Damaging frosts may occur at any time now so if frost threatens tender plants must be brought inside. But with the cooler temperatures the autumn colours will appear. Enjoy what you see and use this natural palette to think ahead of what you might want to change or introduce.
Chrysanthemums should be brought into the greenhouse which should be kept well ventilated. Gradually reduce the watering of potted up Fuschias and generally keep the greenhouse drier as it gets colder. Dahlias can be left in the ground until the cold has blackened them, but if you want to remember what colour they are, place a label on a stem before they are blackened by the frost.
Prune blackberries in the same way as the loganberries and thin and tie in the raspberries. Do not cut the tips – this is best done in February. In a wet year, such as we have had, raspberries tend to produce a lot of new basal shoots. Now is the time to remove the unwanted ones. Take gooseberry cuttings.
Lift and divide Asters after flowering and prepare the ground for spring bedding by digging or forking and then adding fertiliser. Additional bone meal helps to promote root growth.
Plant up containers with spring flowering plants and bulbs taking care to preserve as much root as possible on the plants – the more root the more chance they have to get established. Then start planting spring bedding for early displays - Wallflowers, Polyanthus, Forget-me-not, Sweet William and Foxglove.Plant out spring cabbages and autumn sown onion sets and garlic.
Pot up shrub cuttings which were taken in July and August.
Buy or make a cold frame. This will be very useful in the winter and spring for protecting tender plants. Sow winter salads in a cold greenhouse.
Prune climbing and rambler roses tying in the stems where necessary.
Late carrots keep best when left in the soil, but it is best to protect them with straw when it gets frosty. Protect less hardy plants too with fleece, In exposed areas Brussel sprouts will benefit from staking and the removal any of the lower leaves that are turning yellow - to prevent fungal disease.
Spray peaches and nectarines against peach leaf curl using a copper based fungicide just before leaf fall.
Continue to tidy herbaceous borders and vegetable garden. Clear the garden of weeds and clear around fruit trees. Cut down Asparagus and sweep up and compost the leaves as they fall. Turning the compost heaps will assist the decomposition.
Collect and dispose of any apples and pears which are starting to rot. Reduce the frequency of mowing of the lawn, scarify and aerate.
The Gardening Year