Things to do in the garden now it is that time of year again, If you have a large or small garden, these tips should help you on your way to getting things done in your garden before winter really sets in.

The month of October is often a good time for painting your fence and trellis, get a good sprayer from your local diy shop as if you have a very large fence to paint these sprayers can save you a huge amount of time, hours in fact, a brush simply wont do the job anymore when you can use a cheap low cost sprayer, and the time spent could be used elswhere in the garden.

If you have any fruit growing, you can keep picking them until they just stop ripening.

Aerate your lawn and brush sharp sand into spiked holes, this is also about your last chance to give your lawn an autumn feed, dont forget, you will have to continue to mow your lawn but you may have to raise the blades a little in your mower.

Dont waste those fallen leaves you have racked up, get them on the compost heap.

If you have roses, keep dead heading them as they can keep flowering until Christmas, amazing I know but these can make your garden look nice, especially if you have enough of them.

Now is also a good time to think about planting your shrubs and perennials, roses, trees and conifers and plant your spring flowering plants such as wallflowers and pansies etc and bring in any dahlia tubers but carry on with any shrub cuttings.

If you have any hardy perennials then this is also a good time for dividing them.

Thinking of planting spring cabbage? now is a good time but do remember to cover them with a net unless you really want to feed the pigeons, and dont forget about your autumn garlic and onion sets.

Due to the coming frost this time of year, you may as well dig up any remaining potatoes.

Here’s a little tip: Put some grease on any bands you have on your fruit trees, obvious really but too often forgotten.

Any tender plants should be taken into the greenhouse or they wont last long.

Wash the glass in your greenhouse if dirty and make sure there are no shaded areas if possible.

Lining your greenhouse with bubble polythene will help you to conserve some heat for the winter months.

Make sure your greenhouse heaters are working – no good sitting around until you need your heaters only to find they wont work!

Water less now and try and only water in the mornings but do remember the elusive hot days when you may need to open your ventilators.

Throw out any summer bedding plants when they have finished flowering.

Gardening is really a full time occupation, especially if you have a large garden to look after.

I asked a recently retired friend if he is bored now he has retired and he said he spends so much time doing things in the garden that need doing, he cant believe he ever had time to even go to work.

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