Some jobs for the weekend

Check for gaps in your borders and fill them with plants like hardy cyclamen, hardy chrysanthemums and winter-flowering pansies.

Also look out for scented winter-flowering shrubs such as Viburnum farreri and Viburnum bodnantense, Mahonia and Sarcococca. Just ask our friendly plant staff if you need any help choosing suitable plants for your garden.

Now that the colder weather is here, make sure you don’t forget about the wild birds in your garden and put out feed and water for them.

We have an excellent range of food and feeders, bird tables and nesting boxes and much more, all of which will attract lots of different species.

Now’s the time to prepare outside chrysanths for winter. Cut down the stems to six inches and then carefully lift them with a fork, labelling them first.

Remove any loose soil and then box the stools in moist compost and place in a cool, airy, frost-free place.

Good ventilation is essential and an electric fan heater is the perfect way to keep the plants frost-free and to circulate the air.

Finally, if you haven’t purchased your spring-flowering bulbs yet then you should do soon to ensure a riot of colour early next year.

Tulips are best planted during November, but buy them now to ensure the best selection.

They look fabulous planted en-masse, mixed with other spring-flowering bulbs or spring bedding plants or in front of shrubs and herbaceous perennials.