Between the possibility of rain, sub zero temperatures and blustery days it’s no wonder that we Brits have plenty to say about the weather and especially the changing seasons.
Cool autumn temperatures bring out some of the most dramatic fiery foliage displays in the garden, so make sure that you plant varieties that are the most vibrant like Japanese acers, gingko and Mountain Ash. These attractive trees are suitable for small gardens and play host to wildlife.
In the flowerbeds pack punch with Japanese anemones, sedums and Michaelmas daisies, which grow well in patio pots too. Add seasonal plants such as ornamental cabbage and kales, which have red or white leaves that become more vibrant as the temperatures drop and hardy cyclamen, autumn crocus plus the wispy leaves of ornamental grasses.
Time to tidy up
Now’s also the time to give the garden a general tidy up - start by clearing away the dying foliage and flowers and especially of pond plants. Leave pond debris on the side of the pond for a few days to allow pond life to crawl back into the water then wash to remove any remaining creatures before adding to the compost bin.
Scour your borders too and dig up, divide and re-plant bindweed infested clumps of perennials. Take care to extract the thick creamy-white roots of bindweed for even the tiniest piece that’s left in the soil will re-sprout.
Sow hardy annuals
Another timely job is to sow hardy annuals in sheltered places for extra early displays next summer and sow some in pots for colour in the cold greenhouse. Sweet peas are a must-have and easy to grow. They are also an especially good choice for virtual time travellers, as their deliciously scented blooms will take you back to granny’s garden.
The most fragrant sweet peas are the old-fashioned ‘grandiflora’ types. The frilly, flamboyant ‘Spencer’ types can also be selected for scent, as can some of the modern introductions. Their nectar-rich blooms attract pollinators, such as bees, making them useful on the veg plot too. Grow them as a companion to runner beans, which flower at the same time.
Plant spring flowering bulbs
Spring flowering bulbs must also be planted now ready to greet the arrival of spring with exuberant blooms of sunny yellow daffodils and brightly coloured crocus and fragrant hyacinths.
To see your containers bulging with bulbs in spring plant a double or even triple layer, sandwiching smaller bulbs such as anemone, scilla and muscari on top of layers of larger bulbs such as hyacinths, daffodils and tulips, so together they create maximum impact.
Hyacinths are prized for their long lasting blooms and intoxicating, sexy scent, so are usually forced to flower at Christmastime for displaying around the house where they are appreciated as a natural air freshener for killing the smell of boiled sprouts!
You will need to buy specially ‘treated’ or prepared bulbs and start them into growth in the first week of October if they to be forced into bloom at Christmastime. And as the flowers should last for around two to three weeks, they should cover any New Year parties too.
Grow salad leaves
Bags of salad leaves are expensive to buy in supermarkets but by giving the plants protection, it's possible to sow seeds in the autumn for tasty leaves over winter. Choose from hardy varieties of your favourite summer lettuce, or experiment with more unusual winter salad crops such as Texsel greens and salad burnet. For a continuous supply, sow a few seeds every four weeks.
If a sharp dip in temperature is predicted (particularly overnight), consider covering your seeds with fleece to protect them. Winter salads traditionally have a strong, robust flavour that can sometimes be a little bitter. If you find that chicory salad leaves are too bitter for your tastes, blanch the leaves by covering the plants with an upturned flowerpot.
Our pick of the best secateurs
The rotating handle is a brilliant feature on these winning secateurs, as it rotates with your hand as you cut, giving added comfort and a more natural squeezing action. It also offers added protection for your fingers against thorns and bristles. These pruners performed consistently in our tests, whether trimming fresh prunings or chopping through deadwood. The grip can also be adjusted using the safety catch, like our other joint winner.
Type: Bypass; Cutting diameter: 20mm; Weight: 335g; Material: Carbon steel blade with non-stick coating; Non-replaceable blades; Features two safety locks, shock absorbers, a wire-cutting notch, a revolving handle, a sap groove, a cushioned handle and a three-year guarantee
As our joint winner, these pruners performed consistently across the board. On test, they were comfortable to hold, easy to use and effective at pruning fresh green shrubbery as well as thicker branches. They offer two positions on the safety catch to suit both small and large hands and the blade features a useful wire-cutting notch and can be replaced using the supplied spanner. They were comfortable to use and effective at a variety of tasks.
Type: Bypass; Cutting diameter: 25mm; Weight: 250g; Material: Carbon steel blade; Replaceable blades; Features two safety locks, shock absorbers, a wire-cutting notch, an included spanner, a sap groove and a lifetime guarantee
These secateurs are great value for money and offer good all-round performance. The blades are sharp and particularly good at snipping leafy plants as well as general pruning. Our testers found the shape of the handle and the rubber grip comfortable in use, although it’s quite a chunky handle, so would suit larger hands. Bear in mind that at this price you won’t get any extra features like a sap groove or wire-cutter.
Type: Bypass; Cutting diameter: Up to 17mm; Weight: 200g; Material: Carbon steel with non-stick; Non-replaceable blades; Features a soft-grip handle and a 1-year guarantee
Our winning anvil secateurs performed well, especially when cutting thicker branches in ratchet mode. These pruners didn’t need much pressure and the looped handle makes them easy to grip and control. We loved the useful oil sponge, which is supplied as part of the handle to clean and lubricate the blades after use. They can be switched back to a single cut action, rather than a ratchet action. They’re a great investment if you regularly handle thicker branches.
Type: Ratchet anvil; Cutting diameter: 22mm (ratchet mode) and 18mm (single cut mode); Weight: 220g; Material: Carbon steel with non-stick coating; non-replaceable blade; Features a 2-in-1 ratchet anvil function, oil sponge, a cushioned handle and a five-year guarantee
These compact pruners would suit those with smaller hands who struggle to cut through thick or particularly tough branches. On test, they didn’t need a lot of pressure thanks to the ratchet action. These pruners are really lightweight, especially for an anvil design, so they can be used for prolonged periods. This is a great price for such a strong performer, but they can’t be switched to a single-cut action, unlike our top-scoring anvil option.
Type: Ratchet anvil; Cutting Diameter: 22mm; Weight: 130g; Material: Carbon steel with non-stick; Non- replaceable blades; Features a soft-grip handle and a 10-year guarantee
