The Gardeners Diary

Winter and spring bedding plants tend to flower in phases depending on temperature. Play your part by keeping pansies, primulas and other plants regularly deadheaded. Pick off faded blooms to keep plants looking tidy and prevent them setting seed, which can reduce flowering performance

This is a good time to move shrubs or flowers to a new position if they have outgrown their site

In mild areas, clumps of perennials can be divided and healthy young outer portions replanted into freshly prepared soil.

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Prune shrubs - many shrubs will benefit from a trim this month to keep them tidy and encourage new growth. Shorten the shoots of cape fuchsia, cutting back strong side-shoots, shaping the plant and relieving congestion

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Finish sowing hardy annual flowers outside in May.  Later sowings will result in later blooms

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Potted lilies will be growing quickly now and as their flowers start developing they will need some support.  Push several canes into the compost around the edge of the pot, linking them up with string to provide stability.  If border lilies are not supported by neighbouring plants, use stakes around these too

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As winter draws closer, there is much to do in the garden!

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House plants which have been outside for the summer should be lifted in their pots, cleaned off and brought back inside before the weather deteriorates.  Check closely that pests including ants and slugs are not sneaking in with them

Now is the time to feed shrubs and hedges wit a high potash liquid fertilizer to harden young growth

Create a striking feature in your borders by using some plants that look good during the autumn months; Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant, ornamental grasses, heleniums, perennial asters and Michaelmas daisies all work well

Look out for green fly on winter-flowering pansies and other plants.  Treat with a suitable insecticide

Give roses a final deadheading when the blooms have faded and shorten the tall stems slightly to reduce wind rock

Look out for indoor bulbs for autumn planting and daffodils that are prepared for early flowering at Christmas.  Plant up containers with amaryllis bulbs and prepared hyacinths for another Christmas display

Keep any eye on early ripening apple varieties, such as Discovery, and pick the fruit as soon as it’s sweet enough to eat.  Most early varieties won’t keep so eat them while they’re at their best

Now is a good time to divide any overgrown or tired looking clumps of alpines and herbaceous perennials.  This will invigorate them, improving flowering and overall shape for next year

Ventilate conservatories and greenhouses during the remaining warmer days but reduce ventilation once the cooler and gusty autumn weather sets in.  Be ready to reduce shading towards the end of the month too as light levels fall

Mow the lawn less frequently and raise the height of the cut as the growth rate of the grass slows down.  You can now start to think about autumn lawn care including scarifying, aerating and top dressing

This is an ideal time of year to create new lawns from turf or seed

Clean up patios and hard surfaces to get rid of moss and algae.  Doing this job now will prevent them becoming slippery during the winter

Ensure container plants especially evergreens never go short of water during the summer while they’re developing their flower buds for next spring’s display

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Pinch out the growing tips of basket and container plants to encourage them to produce bushy even growth and lots of flowers

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Essential maintenance for January. Read whole article