With the days getting shorter and the summer receding, most of the tasks this month are about tidying up and making preparations for next year’s growing season:

• Evergreen hedges can be given a final trim

• With the soil still warm, now is a good time to lift and divide perennials. Faded and unsightly perennials can be cut down to the ground

• Instead of burning logs and twigs, why not create a “bug hotel” in the corner of your garden where insects can overwinter?

• This month is ideal for bulb planting - best done after some rain when the soil has been softened by the weather. Tulips are best planted next month

• Get the most out of your hanging baskets and containers by keeping up with the watering, weeding and the feeding

• Lawns can be scarified and aerated either by machine or the good old method of jumping on a fork and using a rake: you will not need gym membership this month of you choose the latter option!

• An autumn feed of your lawn can add vitality and resilience to your green patch. Ensure you use autumn not spring feed as the autumn feed is high in potassium that strengthens whilst the spring feed is high in nitrogen which can make the grass sappy

• Ponds can easily get overgrown: with the water nicely warmed by the summer, now is the time to do the job of clearing debris and splitting plants - with care if you have a butyl liner! A good rule of thumb to follow is to never have more than 50% of the water surface covered with planting

• Where a pond is susceptible to excessive leaf fall, cover with a removable net, being careful not to endanger the wildlife. When topping up soil and pots for the pond, try to make every effort not to use soil that is rich in fertiliser or pesticides: the chemicals can have a dramatic and damaging effect on the eco system of your pond.

When you are planting and dividing pond marginal plants it is a good idea not to put your hand in the damp soil to balance yourself as I did recently. The results were predictably comic!