TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS
- Reseed bare lawn patches. Use horticultural fleece or netting to protect the seed from the birds.
- This is the perfect tome to plant crocus, daffodil and iris to make a spring time display.
- Move self seeded biennials such as foxgloves.
- Prune jasmine.Summer flowering jasmine is pruned by cutting back to a strong new sideshoot below the flowered stems. Completely remove weak or congested stems to encourage new growth.
- Plant perennials and shrubs while the soil is still warm and there may be les need to water.
- Tidy hedges to keep them looking sharp over winter
- Divide herbaceous perennials that have finished flowering. keep and replant only the most healthy and vigorous plants.
- Control grubs in the lawn. If you have a problem with chafer grubs or leather jackets use a biological control.
- Prolong summer displays.Keep containers and hanging baskets looking good by continuing to deadhead, feed and water.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
- Crop sweet corn. They are ripe when the tendrils at the end turn brown and if you push your finger nail into a kernel they release milky sap. If the sap is still watery wait a week or two before picking them.
- Gather autumn raspberries. Finish harvesting autumn raspberries, but leave the fruited canes in place for pruning next February.
- Pick pumpkins and winter squash. Harvest squashes later in the month, once the skins have hardened but before the frosts.
GREENER GARDENING
- Leave areas of long grass to act as shelter for wildlife as the weather gets colder.
- Feed hedgehogs. Help them to build up energy reserves before they go into hibernation by leaving out meat based cat or dog food or special hedgehog food.
- Net your pond. Lots of decaying leaves reduce the amount of oxygen in the water and builds up silt at the bottom. Catch and compost fallen leaves instead.
- Clear nest boxes so birds can use them for roosting in winter. Line them with dry grass to make them warmer for small birds.