We came across a really useful blog post on the BBC about what you should be doing in your garden, and when, during the autumn to protect it and prepare it for spring.   “Early autumn

• Bring in tender plants under cover before the first frosts.
• Plant or move evergreens and conifers, while the soil is still warm.
• Plant spring bedding, such as wallflowers and polyanthus.
• Plant spring bulbs

  Mid autumn

• Tidy perennials, removing dead stems but leaving seed-heads for birds to eat.
• Plant deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers.
• Lay new lawns, so long as soil is not too wet.
• Batten down the hatches, ensuring nothing can blow about and cause damage on windy nights.

  Late autumn

• Plant shrubs, roses and hedging plants sold with bare roots.
• Clear up fallen leaves and compost them.
• Plant tulips and hyacinths.
• Move deciduous trees and shrubs once they have lost their leaves.
• Take hardwood cuttings from shrubs and roses. “

  Source: Key Jobs for Autumn - BBC Following these points should ensure that your garden escapes unscathed from the winter and means it will look beautiful during the spring. Composting Instead of simply composting fallen leaves, you might also consider using leaf sacks to turn them into leaf mould. Simply stuff a hessian leaf sack with fallen leaves and leave the sack in a dry and dark corner of your garden. When you return in spring, you should be greeted by a nice pile of leaf mulch which you can use as base compost and fertiliser. After you’ve tidied your plants up, you’ll no doubt have some garden waste, so instead of putting it in the bin, why not compost it? Composting is a brilliant way of being more resourceful, as you can put food waste, garden waste and cardboard in your compost bin and receive a lovely nutritional base fertiliser at the end of it. We’ve currently got a special offer on two of our smallest compost bins, so why not begin composting today?   Prevent damage in your garden Perhaps one of the most important points is to ensure that nothing can blow around and cause damage to your garden and undo all your hard work. This might mean moving any garden furniture, such as tables, chairs, barbeques or chimineas into the garage or shed. If you notice any damaged fence panels, replace them now before they are blown over in high wind and cause damage either yours or your neighbour’s gardens. As well as securing things which could damage your plants, you might need to tie back some of your plants which could get damaged or blown over in high wind, one way of doing this is by using twine.   Brighten up your garden and feed the birds It’s important not to forget about wild birds during the cold autumn and winter months when their natural food supplies may be low. Simply placing a bird feeder or a bird dish in your garden, and keeping it well stocked and clean, can really help wild birds through the winter and get them in tip top condition for spring. Visit our website to view our ranges of bird feeders, compost bins and gardening accessories to help you tidy up your garden this autumn. While Christmas is still a couple of Months away, beat the last minute Christmas rush and take a look our seasonal selection, which contains great gifts for gardeners or lovers of unusual gifts.