Now’s the time to plant spring bulbs and there’s a terrific choice in the garden centres – all can be planted from September onwards except Tulips which prefer to go in a little later (November) as a general rule in normal soil plant twice the depth of the bulb – slightly deeper in light soils and slightly shallower in heavy clay soils. Tulips rarely last more than a season or two in heavy soils so why not plant in tubs and sink them into the gaps in the garden in the spring – they can then be lifted out when the foliage starts to get tatty later on.

Autumn is a good time to plant trees and shrubs from containers– the soil is still warm and moist so they will get away to a good start. Put a handful of bonemeal or a fertiliser high in phosphorus in the bottom to encourage root growth. Make sure they don’t go short of water in their first season and they will reward you for years to come.

Don’t be tempted to tidy up the garden too much for the winter – seed heads left on flowers and grasses will be a welcome treat for visiting birds. It will also help to protect the crowns of more tender plants and will look magical with the sun shining through them on a frosty morning.

Look around your garden and see what Autumn colour you have – the garden centres are full of inspiration at this time of year. My top five plants for brilliant autumn colour are:

•Cotoneaster horizontalis
•Euonymus alatus
•Hamamelis x intermedia – Witch Hazel
•Cotinus ‘Grace’ – Smoke Tree
•Amelanchier canadensis – Snowy mespilus

As winter approaches and plants start slowing down make a note of what didn’t work this year – and make a point of pruning or moving that overhanging bush or that tiny little flower that was hidden all summer long.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for autumn gales and give us a call if you have a fence that needs fixing or a tree that needs pruning.

Sharon