Lift dahlia tubers after the first frost, clean them off, and store in dry compost in a cool, frost-proof place.

Plant bare-root hedging, roses, trees and shrubs, before the weather turns really cold.

Cut down faded perennials and mulch the surrounding soil with compost.

Gather up and bin the fallen leaves of roses affected by blackspot, so they don't carry the disease over to next year.

Take hardwood cuttings from healthy fruit bushes, including currants, blueberries, and gooseberries.

Prune fruit bushes once dormant, including blackcurrants, redcurrants, white currants, and gooseberries.

Plant bare-root fruit trees, bushes, and canes.

Continue to mow the lawn in mild spells if the grass is still growing, but raise the height of the blades.

Chop up any faded bedding plants, annuals and old crops, and add to the compost bin.

Start pruning free-standing apple and pear trees once dormant, to control their size and encourage fruiting.

Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene.

Soft and bush fruit

Herbaceous perennials

Mediterranean shrubs

Yew hedges

Ornamental trees

Take cuttings of shrubby herbs, such as rosemary, lemon verbena, and thyme.

Collect (and sow) seeds from hardy perennials.

Divide and transplant perennials.

Take hardwood cuttings from ornamental trees and shrubs.

Agastache foeniculum (Anise hyssop)

Ajuga reptans

Armeria maritima (Sea thrift)

Eryngium

Knautia arvensis (Field scabious)

Myrrhis odorata (Sweet cicely)

Saxifraga granulata (Meadow saxifraga)

Stachys sylvatica (Hedge woundwort)