The start to autumn cropping. Lift any remaining potatoes before the slugs get at them and spoil them. Store in a cool dark dry place for use over winter.

Crop apples and black berries turn into delicious pies and crumbles, its what this time of year is all about, turning the ‘fruits’ of your labour into home made goodies.

Start to apply grease bands to fruit trees to stop wingless female codling moths laying eggs on tree branches.

Do not prune fruit bushes just yet, its best to wait until all the leaves have dropped, unless there are signs of disease damage.

Although container trees can be planted any time of year, unless the ground is frozen, waterlogged or bone dry, September is a good month to be planting trees as the soil will still be warm, this will benefit the roots.

Cut out and dispose of any dead or diseased parts of trees; look for bacterial canker which starts as brown spots on leaves in spring, these areas drop out giving a shot hole appearance. The canker then quickly spreads to stems which then exude gum- particularly on cherries. Leaves on cankered stems quickly yellow, shrivel and die.

Japanese onion sets can be sown for over wintering.

Wait for the first frost before lifting Dahlias or Cannas, some areas these can be left in the ground but cover with a mulch.

Hanging baskets, if you have fed, watered and dead headed regularly, should still be looking acceptable. If not, plant up with winter pansies, conifers and evergreen plants for a good winter show.