JOBS AHEAD
It is the last chance to give your lawn some autumn care this month. Loosen the soil on any bare patches and finely sprinkle some grass seed. Apply an autumn feed to the rest of the lawn before the ground gets too cold.
Gather up fallen leaves and bag them up, punch a few air holes in the bags and store them behind a shed or garage for up to 18 months to make the most fabulous leaf mould conditioner for your soil.
It is the wet rather than the cold in our winters which kills many of our plants so help plants in pots survive by putting them on pot feet or a few bricks to help water drain through.
Now is the best time to plant a bare root hedge as bare roots are cheaper to buy than pot grown plants.
Clear out bird boxes of debris and disinfect with boiling water.
Cut back any perennial plants that have started to look past their best. Ones with seed heads can be left to help feed birds over winter.
Autumn is the best time to get new plants in the ground so the roots get established while the ground is still warm so go out and look at where you have gaps that need filling.
Clear up fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases such as black spot from over-wintering. To avoid spreading damaging fungi, do not compost the leaves.
Get bulb planting now for a fabulous spring display. Plant bulbs at three times their own depth, pointy end up. Always plant bulbs in odd numbers for a more natural look. Think about adding some winter aconite and crocus bulbs to your borders to feed early insects from January and February.
Finish harvesting beans and peas then cut the plants away at ground level, leaving the roots in the soil. These crops fix nitrogen which is slowly released into the soil as the roots break down.
Check on Brussel sprouts and stake to prevent wind damage.
Harvest squashes and pumpkins before the first frosts so they do not turn mushy.
Plant garlic by breaking the bulb into individual cloves and pushing into the soil so the tip is just covered. Space the cloves 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart.
Divide established crowns of rhubarb which have become congested. Lift the clump with a spade then split into pieces, ensuring that each has at least one good bud for replanting. Plant 1m apart with the bud just above the level of the soil.
Cut back the fruited canes of summer fruiting raspberries, leaving the new green canes for next year's crop. Tie in next year's raspberry canes to supports.
Clear away straw from around the base of strawberry plants to increase ventilation and cut back old foliage to encourage fresh new growth.
Close greenhouse vents and doors in mid-afternoon to trap in warmth and keep plants snug overnight.
Greenhouse crops, such as tomatoes, are past their best by October, so remove the old plants to compost. To ripen green tomatoes, pop them inside a brown, paper bag with a banana.
Pelargoniums should be brought indoors to over-winter. Cut them back hard with secateurs to 10cm and then store in a cool, light place, such as an unheated greenhouse or porch.
Lift and divide clubs of herbs like chives, marjoram or lemon balm and replant to make more plants for free.