Autumn is often underestimated by new gardeners. But it's one of the most productive seasons — the soil is still warm, rainfall is usually good, and there's crucial work to be done before winter arrives.
Plant Spring Bulbs
September to November is spring bulb planting season. Plant tulips, daffodils, alliums, and hyacinths now for a spectacular spring display.
Rule of thumb: plant at 2–3× the bulb's depth. In heavy clay, plant on a bed of grit to improve drainage.
Divide Herbaceous Perennials
Lift, divide, and replant overgrown clumps of perennials. This rejuvenates the plant and gives you free divisions to spread around the garden.
Clear Vegetable Beds
Remove spent summer crops. Add a layer of compost or well-rotted manure as a mulch — winter rain will work it in.
Bring in Tender Plants
Before the first frost: bring in dahlias, cannas, agapanthus, and any other tender perennials. Clean off soil, dry, and store in a cool frost-free place.
Protect Tender Plants That Stay Outside
Wrap tree ferns, bananas, and other marginally hardy plants with horticultural fleece. Pot feet or grit under containers help drainage.
Sow Winter Crops
Garlic goes in October–November. Broad beans can be sown in autumn for an earlier spring crop. Winter salads (lamb's lettuce, land cress) can be started now under cover.
Final Lawn Care
Late September/early October: scarify, aerate, and overseed bare patches. The soil is still warm enough for grass seed to germinate.
