For a beautiful basket come spring, plant daffodils in September.

1. Go for grape - hyacinth, that is. Muscari bulbs are cheap as chips and will also add a luxe shade of rich blue to a patio or garden next spring.

2. Bolster fading summer containers with a pot or three of mini-mums - baby chrysanthemums - to add great dollops of welcome colour. Transplant into terracotta pots so they don't blow over.

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3. Pick all tomatoes by the end of the month, placing green ones in a paper bag with a few red to speed up the ripening process.

4. Clean out bird feeders and refill with nuts and seeds.

5. Reseed bare patches in the lawn during a wet spell and apply autumn lawn feed.