Everything you need to know about autumn tasks, from putting the garden to bed to tools of the trade, storage and practical solutions for around the home.

Summer’s over and the winter battle has begun. As the trees and plants in the garden shed their leaves and you slip on your gardening gloves, check out our expert picks of autumn must–does and the best buys to put you into action.

•    Harvest ripened vegetables, including squash and pumpkins
•    Divide overgrown perennials and hardy geraniums
•    Plant spring and summer flower perennials, allowing six/eight weeks for root formation before winter sets in
•    Water shrubs and trees well
•    Plant hardy, spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils
•    Rake and shred leaves, bag them and leave as ready to use mulch throughout winter
•    Clean and sharpen and store tools
•    As the trees and plants in the garden shed their leaves and you begin your autumn tidy up the structure of your garden will become more obvious.

A little forward planning goes a long way. Don’t just buy potted displays of tulips, crocuses and daffodils in spring – ‘It is cheaper and far more satisfying to raise your own from scratch, starting with dormant bulbs and planting them now,’ says gardening guru Alan Titchmarch.  A little bit of effort now for a blooming fantastic display later in the year.
Pot your own!

Plant your favourite bulb in one of our 3 Herb pots in a tray and keep on a kitchen windowsill, or any room of your choice with plenty of natural daylight.
Gift Idea – Ideal for Christmas or to say Thank you to a friend or neighbour, personalise it by slotting their name in the holder provided.

Elizabeth’s top tip

Plant flower bulbs three times the depth of the bulb.