Autumn is a busy time of year for the gardener, with the changing light and cooler weather our borders start to fade. It doesn’t have to mean the end of the gardening year, careful planning can still provide a crescendo of fiery colours to provide a dramatic crescendo to provide colour and interest well into the Autumn and beginning of Winter.

However, now is the time to start thinking about Spring. October is an ideal time to start planting your spring bulbs. By combining a simple mix of Narcissis, Tulips and Alliums you will be able to provide a colourful combination of flower in the garden from March until June.

Always buy more than you think you need, as often these displays look better en masse rather than a few flowers dotted here and there through your borders. A further tip would be to only plant the smaller narcissi in your borders as the big trumpet daffs are overpowering and thuggish amongst your other border plants.

Callicarpa Bodinieri Profusion commonly known as Beautyberry is a bushy, deciduous shrub which has long, mid green leaves which in the autumn months turn a wonderful rosy, red and pink colour. In July Callicarpa Profusion will bloom small lilac-coloured flowers, however the true star of the show is the strong, purple-coloured berries which are produced in large clusters covering the plant in the Autumn. Even when the leaves fall the berries remain which maintains the plants interest for a longer season.

Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ originates from central and western China and is actually a plant belonging to the Mint family. It does well in a sunny, partially shaded area of the garden with well drained soil where it should thrive. It is low maintenance, generally disease and pest free and makes for a good garden plant for beginner and expert gardeners alike. While it requires little pruning, if space is limited it would benefit from a trim back to the main structure of the plant in early spring.

Bees and butterflies are drawn to their irresistible scent, making ‘Profusion’ a wonderful addition to your garden. Placed near a path or in a front garden, you can appreciate its beauty all year round. You can plant facing any direction, but results have shown that the west and south-facing plants produce more fruit.

Something to note around the gardens of Steyning is that the leaves will turn yellow if the soil is overly alkaline. Flowers should start to bloom in early July, meaning fruit will start to appear around September and die back in November.
Callicarpa will add a flash of colour in the garden when other plants start to fade, it’s a versatile shrub which looks a bit drab over the summer months so its best to underplant it with summer flowering herbaceous like Geraniums, Nepeta or salvis to essure that you have some interest through the summer too.

Jobs to do this month include:
Ornamental Garden:
• Mulch borders with compost if not done in the spring.
• Continue deadheading if weather is mild.
• Remove fallen leaves from Roses to prevent blackspot.
• Continue to tidy borders of weeds and leaves.
• Transplant any plants that need to be moved.
• Plant spring bulbs such as Daffodils etc. But NOT tulips – wait until November to avoid tulip blight.
• Lift and divide perennials.
• Plant up containers etc for winter bedding displays.
• Apply autumn lawn feed etc.
• Now is a good time to plant trees and shrubs – the soil is moist and warm.
• Sow sweet peas under glass.
• Can lift summer flowering bulbs / tubers and overwinter in greenhouse or can heavily mulch plants and leave in the ground. Eg gladioli, dahlia, canna.
• Cut back herbaceous perennials as they die back.
• Prune climbing roses to avoid wind rock.
• Refill bird feeders regularly.
• Install insect hotels / log piles.

Vegetable Garden:
• Begin planting garlic
• Apply fleece to late season crops when     frost is forecast.
• Lift and divide rhubarb.
• Clear away old foliage of strawberries to prevent pest and diseases.
• Pot up herbs and take into frost free greenhouse or windowsill to continue cropping through the winter.
• Complete planting onion setts and plant out spring cabbage.
• Harvest squash and pumpkin if not already done so.