Clear up autumn leaves

Before you reach for a rake, run your lawn mover over grassy areas. As long as it’s a typical rotary mower, this will pick up and shred most if not all of your leaves, saving a lot of time and effort. Your grass will be growing much slower now, but a few more cuts every week or so until frost or it becomes soggy will keep it tidy and the leaves off. Brownie points for those who have a compost bin or heap to empty the leaves into, otherwise just make sure you get most of them into your green bin before collections stop for the year.

Plant a bare root rose

Now’s a great time to bag a bargain as nurseries and some garden centres will be selling roses and other shrubs as ‘bare root’. This means instead of buying the plant actively growing inside a pot, you are only paying for the roots and main stems, usually just bagged up. This is cheaper as it costs less to transport, and while they may not be much to look at this month, you’ll be saving a considerate amount. Plant now and you’ll have well-rooted, healthy plants next spring.

Repair the lawn

Too many garden parties this year? Now’s the time to spread lawn seed across bare patches. This will allow it to germinate before the weather gets too cold. Once the temperate is below 5 degrees celsius you’ll need to wait for spring, so seize the moment. Look out for grass seed that boasts toughness, this will fare better in droughts next year and future torture from enthusiastic children or animals. For patches plate size and up, buy a roll of turf to cut and lay out – just make sure you keep it well watered for a couple of weeks until it roots.

Create an autumn floral display

There’s no need to wait for spring for new blooms in your garden. Head to the garden centre now and grab hardy perennials like pansies, wallflowers or primroses – you’ll likely find a wider selection than you expect. Don’t be tempted by summer flowers still in bloom, they’ll likely only last a couple more weeks. Instead buy your autumn/winter flowers and pot up or fill holes in any borders. Push spring bulbs into the soil between plants for extra pizazz come spring.

Trim yer hedge

This is another job best not left too late. Hedge trimming in winter can leave burnt tips as you expose soft growth. Take a hedge trimmer or shears and cut a section back to your desired height and width. Then continue to cut using this section as a guide, widening out, stepping back every now and again to check you’re keeping the cut level.

And finally, visit a public garden

If all this gardening sounds like too much hard work, down tools and visit a public garden for inspo or just to enjoy the hard work of others. Wrest Park in Bedfordshire boasts stunning long vistas and autumnal views (which is why Bridgerton and The Crown have filmed here, amongst others). Ashridge House in Herts is great for autumnal walks while the garden at Hatfield House is a haven of a green space.

Andrew Luke is Head Gardener at Wrest Park, English Heritage. Spot him in the grounds or book tickets for his upcoming Wreath Making course 2-3, 9-10 Dec 2024. Ask him absolutely any gardening question you like, just tell him Muddy sent you.