So the clocks have gone back and the days are shorter but there's still plenty of time to prepare your garden for Winter. Here's my top 5 jobs for this month in the garden.
Plant Tulips
Now is the perfect time to plant tulip bulbs in your garden to ensure a colorful display in your garden. Plant in pots or in area of your flower beds where Summer and Autumn flowering plants leave gaps earlier in the year.
2. Plant hedging
Now is the perfect time to plant hedging whilst the soil is still warm enough to allow them to establish before the Winter sets in. Plant in single or double rows planting the hedge plants at the same height as the soil. Mulch around the plants once planted to help lock in moisture.
3. Collect fallen leaves
It's especially important to clear the fallen leaves from lawns, paths and from the crowns of plants to avoid the leaves rotting plants or becoming slippery. Store in a hessian or bin bag and wait for the leaves to mulch down to leaf mould which can be used to mulch your flower bed in the future.
4. Plant up a potted Acer
Acer have great Autumn colour and work really well in a container in a sheltered, part shady spot. Now is a great time to plant one.
5. Prune freestanding Apple and Pear trees
Freestanding Apple and Pear trees should be pruned when the tree is dormant, between November and March. Start by pruning out the 3D's - dead, diseased and damaged branches, then shorten the previous year's growth on the primary branches by approximately a third to a facing out bud. Only prune side shoots if they are crossing and remove any strong shoots growing towards the centre of the tree. The aim is to produce an open goblet shape.
Enjoy your garden this month and stay warm!