September and October is the time to start sorting out the garden for the coming winter months and to prepare for spring colour.

Summer hanging baskets and pots are beginning to go over now and once the weather starts to cool down, think about those plants that you want to keep over winter.

Geraniums and fuchsias can be trimmed back and potted up for the winter. Make sure that they are placed somewhere frost free for the winter – a spare bedroom, utility room, conservatory or garage that has some slight heat in the winter. Remember if we get a winter like the last one, an unheated garage will be no good for storing plants that are frost tender.

Begonia corms and dahlia tubers can be dried off and again stored in a frost free environment – wrap in newspaper or dry peat.

September and October are ideal for aerating the lawn with a fork or special tool, then, apply Scotts Autumn Lawn Food to nourish your lawn through the winter months.

Buy prepared hyacinth bulbs for Christmas flowering and plant them in bowls with Bulb Compost. The charcoal will keep the compost sweet, put in a cool, dark place and bring gradually into the light and warmth once the shoots are approx 3cm high.

When planting bulbs in containers its worth planting at least two layers of bulbs, slightly staggered one above the other. This will ensure a spectacular display. Plant the bulbs deeply enough to allow you to plant winter and spring bedding, such as winter pansies, primroses, violas, bellis, heathers and wallflowers on top.

Plant spring flowering bulbs in the garden as soon as possible, to allow a root system to develop. The only exceptions to this rule are tulips which can be planted late – into December if you wish.

We’ll soon be getting our overwintering onions and shallots in stock, plant them as soon as you can and you’ll get an early maturing crop next year.