Flowers

- Plant spring bulbs like crocuses, daffodils, and fritillaries in drifts on the lawn.
- Lift tender plants like cannas to protect from frost, dry the tubers, and store them until spring.
- Create cheerful pot displays with winter plants such as heathers, cyclamen, and pansies.
- Pot up tender perennials like chocolate cosmos and coleus to overwinter them.
- Plant evergreen shrubs and conifer hedges while the soil is still warm.
- Remove saucers from pots and raise them to prevent waterlogging in winter.
- Move deciduous shrubs that are poorly positioned or overgrown.
- Wrap banana plants and tree ferns with fleece or straw to protect from frost.
- Collect seeds from hardy perennials like astrantia and red valerian and sow them right away.
- Take hardwood cuttings from ornamental trees and shrubs.
- Reduce shrub rose heights to prevent winter wind damage.
- Empty summer pots and hanging baskets, composting the old contents.

Greenhouse

- Clean the greenhouse to eliminate debris that harbors pests and diseases over winter.
- Wash the glazing to allow in more autumn sunlight.
- Move tropical plants like bananas and pineapple lilies inside for winter.
- Plant hippeastrum bulbs for Christmas flowers.
- Move citrus plants and fuchsias inside to keep them cool but frost-free over winter.
- Sow quick-growing microgreens for nutrient-rich harvests.
- Insulate greenhouse glazing with bubble wrap as nights get colder.
- Keep indoor azaleas constantly moist, preferably with rainwater.
- Pot up lily-of-the-valley roots for fragrant winter blooms indoors.
- Water plants less as days shorten and temperatures drop.
- Sow sweet peas for early blooms next summer.
- Force narcissus bulbs for indoor flowers in about 10 weeks.
- Spread out harvested onions and garlic to dry before storing.
- Inspect plants you bring into the greenhouse for pests.
- Install a water butt to collect rainwater for the greenhouse.
- Clear fallen leaves from greenhouse gutters to ensure proper drainage.

Garden Maintenance

- Rake fallen leaves from lawns, borders, and paths and store them to make leaf mould.
- Build a log pile at the back of the garden for wildlife shelter.
- Ensure your shed is secure and waterproof for winter storage.
- Apply an autumn lawn feed to revive the grass after summer.
- Remove barley straw from ponds once it turns black to discourage algae.
- Store ceramic and glazed pots that aren’t frost-proof indoors.
- Aerate compacted lawns and brush grit into the holes for better drainage.
- Dig out perennial weeds like horsetail and bindweed, removing the roots.
- Cut down autumn-fruiting raspberry canes after harvesting.
- Collect hoses and drip systems to store indoors to avoid winter damage.
- Clean out bird boxes and disinfect them.
- Gather unused canes and plant supports for winter storage.
- Go on regular snail hunts, especially on damp evenings, to reduce their population before winter.

We are now just over two weeks away from the United States election. It's getting spicier and spicier! Take this time to pick up preps, check for holes in your preps, plan for water purification and rainwater catchment, fuel/ energy, home defense etc.

Adding a fuel siphon to your shopping list might not be a bad idea either. 😉