Flowers

  • Plant tulip bulbs in pots and borders, covering them with at least twice their depth of soil or compost
  • Lift dahlia tubers after the first frost, clean them off and store in dry compost in a cool, frost-proof place
  • Send off for seed catalogues and start planning what to grow next year
  • Plant bare-root hedging, roses, trees and shrubs, before the weather turns really cold. 
  • Clear faded sweet peas, morning glory, thunbergia and other annual climbers from their supports
  • Cut down faded perennials that are looking tatty, then mulch the surrounding soil with garden compost
  • Plant a Japanese maple in a pot and place in a sheltered spot in semi-shade
  • Gather up and bin the fallen leaves of roses affected by black spot, so they don't carry the disease over to next year
  • Move containers of alpine plants under cover to shelter them from winter rain
  • Replenish gravel mulch around alpines to keep the foliage clear of damp soil, which can cause rotting
  • Protect plants that are borderline hardy, such as agapanthus, with a thick mulch of straw or garden compost
  • Put stem protection guards around young trees and shrubs, if rabbits are a problem
  • Sow seeds from berry-laden trees and shrubs
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Fruit and veg

More winter veg growing advice.

Greenhouse

  • Insulate the greenhouse walls and roof with bubble polythene
  • Make sure all tender plants are safely under cover and kept frost free
  • Propagate perennials, including phlox, oriental poppies and verbascums, by taking root cuttings
  • Sow leafy crops such as rocket into small seed trays on a warm sunny windowsill, for winter pickings
  • Check greenhouse plants regularly for overwintering pests
  • Scrub down greenhouse staging, glazing and the framework with disinfectant
  • Water indoor pots of spring bulbs frequently so they never dry out
  • Wash out all empty pots and trays and store neatly under greenhouse staging, ready for use in spring
  • Bring potted herbs, such as parsley and chives, indoors to continue cropping into winter
  • Monitor greenhouse temperatures with a max-min thermometer and turn on heating if needed
  • Avoid splashing foliage when watering, as it will dry slowly in cool weather and fungal diseases may set in
  • Clear out faded tomato and cucumber plants from the greenhouse and add to the compost heap
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House plants

  • Give houseplants extra humidity to combat the drying effects of central heating
  • Feed house plants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing throughout autumn
  • Repot moth orchids after flowering if they look like they’re about to burst out of their pot
  • Water house plants less frequently and move them off particularly cold windowsills at night. Find out how to water your house plants 
  • Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) bulbs in pots for spectacular flowers over the festive season
  • Bring any house plants that you moved outside over summer back indoors, before temperatures start to drop
  • Repot any house plants that have become top heavy or pot bound into larger containers
  • Maximise the amount of light your house plants receive by moving to brighter spots, or choose indoor plants for low light
  • Some house plants, like snake plants, are particularly prone to collecting dust on their leaves. So be sure to give these a wipe regularly
  • Take leaf cuttings from house plants, including African violets, begonias and Cape primroses
  • Take leaf cuttings from succulents, such as echeverias, crassula and sedums
  • Check your house plants for pests like aphids, scale insects, thrips and mealybugs
  • Take large-leaved house plants into the garden and hose them down to clean off accumulated dust
  • For more house plant advice and inspiration visit our Growing and caring for house plants page.

 

from £19.99 Supplied as 14cm potted plants

Perfect for both sunlit spots and partial shade, this perennial thrives anywhere in the garden but particularly shines in the dappled shade of trees and shrubs. Suitable for containers and borders, it has a compact habit with attractive palm-shaped leaves which remain green throughout the year. The long-lasting spring blooms are also an essential source of nectar for early-emerging bees.

Ends in:
from £9.99 Supplied as plug plants

This mix of five super-bright Thunbergia alata Sunny Susy plants will provide months of vibrant colour through summer and into autumn. Easy to grow, thunbergia keeps producing flowers, even if summer weather is not especially hot, with no need for deadheading.

Offer Ends:
£12.95 *Worth £4.95

These expertly grown vegetable plants are perfect for growing on in your garden, allotment or greenhouse. They will quickly establish after transplanting and develop into mature plants, giving you the satisfaction of homegrown vegetables.

Use code: GWCHIQU124

Offer Ends:

Garden maintenance

  • Check bonfires carefully before lighting to make sure no hedgehogs or other wildlife are sheltering inside
  • Continue to mow the lawn in mild spells if the grass is still growing, but raise the height of the blades
  • Collect fallen leaves and place in bin bags, then leave to decompose into leaf mould
  • Look after garden wildlife as winter approaches, by providing additional food and shelter
  • Move wormeries under cover for the winter
  • Chop up any faded bedding plants, annuals and old crops, and add to the compost bin
  • Start pruning free-standing apple and pear trees once dormant, to control their size and encourage fruiting
  • Repair fences and trellis now they're becoming free of foliage
  • Remove pond pumps and fountains to prevent ice damage when temperatures fall below freezing
  • Wrap bubble polythene or hessian around pots to protect from frost damage and to insulate vulnerable plant roots
  • Put waterproof covers over any garden furniture that you can't take indoors over winter
  • Wrap insulating foam around outdoor taps and pipes
  • Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene