Ideas for October

Cut back borders: It’s time to chop your herbaceous plants to let them overwinter quietly in the ground.

Visit gardens with Autumn colour: Leaves are changing fast and soon they will be gone. Head out to great tree collections (I like Stourhead, Westonbirt and Harcourt Arboretum) to see some stunning shades of red and orange as the season takes hold.

Plant for next year: Get new herbaceous plants in before the ground is cold. You may not see much from them over winter but they will be stronger and established for next year if planted now.

Trim for wind rock: Woody plants that don’t get pruned until early next year (like shrub roses, hydrangeas and buddleja) may appreciate a trim now. Reduce their size by about a third and stop them being destabilised by strong wind over the Autumn and Winter.