Households have been told to go do one thing now to get ahead of the autumn gardening. Outdoor and greenhouse expert Lucie Bradley at Two Wests & Elliott has revealed the best thing to do this weekend to prepare your outdoor spaces for the coming season.
She said: “Start arranging and planting new autumn/winter hanging baskets and containers ready for a gorgeous display of autumn colour.
“Look for plants that are well suited to smaller spaces and cooler temperatures. For hanging baskets, stick to miniature varieties of Hardy Chrysanthemums. There is usually a huge range of colours to choose from. Hardy Cyclamen are also perfect to add a touch of colour with their healthy green leaves, slim stems and bold blooms (white, pink and red) this autumn.
Primroses are robust little plants, perfect for compact spaces that pack a punch with brighter shades. And Winter Heathers flower through winter, adding a touch of colour and texture to your basket
“For contrast and texture, add some foliage plants to containers too: Ivies, cineraria, heuchera, ornamental cabbages and grasses.”
BBC’s Gardeners’ World recommends something similar – to plant cyclamen, heathers, heucheras and other colourful bedding plants in containers for autumn interest.
If you have flowers in the garden, Gardeners’ World also suggests collecting seeds, deadheading and pruning before the end of the summer.
Gardeners could also be getting ready to plant hardy annuals for next summer and planting wallflowers, pansies, forget-me-nots and other spring bedding in pots and borders.
In a few weeks, spring bulbs can be planted, including crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, bluebells in pots and border