Things to do this month

Now that Autumn is here it is important to get out in the garden and start to prepare for the winter, there are still plenty of things to be getting on with over the coming weeks.
Here are a few suggestions of jobs to be done

Jobs to be done around the garden

Collect leaves as they fall and store in a wire bin or plastic bag to make leaf-mould

Leave out sunflower seed heads for the birds to feed on

Collect sprinklers, drip-feed systems and other watering kit to store in the shed over winter

Prune suckers away from around the base of ornamental trees

Protect large ceramic or glazed pots from frost damage by wrapping them in bubble polythene

Wrap insulation foam around outdoor taps and pipes
Cut back plants overhanging pavements or boundaries

Tidy borders by cutting down perennials past their best

Plant wallflowers, pansies, forget-me-nots and other spring bedding

Buy spring-flowering bulbs and plan where you're going to plant them

Clear away faded bedding plants from borders and containers

Planting container grown trees

Container grown trees can be planted all through the year providing that the ground is not waterlogged or frozen.

However for the very best results plant during the autumn while the soil is still warm from the summer and moist from the autumn rain.

Tips for planting your trees this autumn

Decide where you want to plant your tree. Dig out any existing weeds and pay particular attention to any perennial weeds that may persist in the soil. Remove all the roots as deep as possible to prevent them from re-growing

Improve the soil by incorporating a generous amount of organic farmyard manure this will enhance the structure of the soil, encourage microbial activity within the soil and improve its moisture retaining and nutrient properties.

Dig a large hole, at least twice the size and depth of the root ball of the tree you are planting. This will provide a generous rooting zone for the roots of your new tree to grow into.

Loosen the base of the hole and mix in a generous amount of Rose, Tree & shrub compost Add a handful of Bone Meal Root Builder to boost the establishment of new roots.

Remove your tree from its pot and tease out the roots so that they grow into the surrounding soil more easily.

Place the root ball of the tree into the planting hole making sure that the top of the root ball is level with the top of the border

Finally use your foot to make sure that the soil around the plant is firm and water thoroughly