October: The colours this Autumn are beautiful, as shown in these photos of the Pryacantha hedge and Acer.

Now is the time to put your garden to bed for the winter. Bring in your non-hardy plants, I put our cannas and lilies in our cold greenhouse along with geraniums and geranium cuttings.

I have also planted sweet-pea seeds in 4″ pots in the greenhouse to get early Spring colour.

Monty Don recommended planting broadbeans and garlic.  I have sowed the broadbean seeds today so will see if he is right!

It is a good idea to rake the leaves that are falling at present to stop the lawns getting overwhelmed. Remember to collect seeds for planting next year, save a sunflower head, marigold seeds, nigella and other annuals.

A picture of our beautiful acer and the Autumnal display at Sheffield Park garden.

 

November is now the safe time to plant tulip bulbs. Plant them deep in pots in well drained soil or in flower beds where they will make a lovely display from March through to May. These are pictures I took a couple of years ago in Pashley Manor on the borders of Sussex and Kent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter jobs to do:

• If you are growing cabbage, remember to net them to protect against birds.
• Borderline hardy plants such as Melianythus and some Agapanthus that you are leaving in the ground, should have a heavy layer of compost around their base to pprotect them from the frost.
• Clean your garden tools, remove earth and oil them to prevent rust.  Restore the cutting edge of hoes, spades and edging tools with a file, then applt WD-40 or similar.
• Plant up patio containers for Christmas, adding red plants and baubles.

I have decorated one of my statues and am very lucky as the holly is full of red berries, hopefully the birds will leave me some for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also been clearing out my shed with all the pots stacked everywhere!  I washed them all and recycled them by giving a lot of them to our local garden centre at Duddleswell.

Good news, our broad beans, sweet peas and rocket have all sprouted, probably due to the mild weather.