If anyone was in any doubt about whether summer was over, the recent weather has certainly shown us that autumn has definitely arrived. The nights have become chilly and, although we haven’t seen a frost yet, I suspect it won’t be too long now.

As we all know, there are always jobs to be done in the garden, and this coming month is no exception. It’s not too late to get your daffodils planted and, in just a few weeks, they will be poking through the soil. Tulips are best planted in November when the ground is cooler and there is less chance of fungal infection.

Other spring bulbs, such as crocus, can be planted now. Our Island garden centres stock a super range of bulbs and autumn plants, such as violas, pansies, heathers and cyclamen. These are perfect for brightening up hanging baskets, troughs and other planted containers. They can all be underplanted with spring bulbs to give a succession of colour.

You can sow sweet peas now in a cold greenhouse; once they have germinated you need to grow them in a cool environment with plenty of natural light such as a cold frame. Only cover if it’s going to get really cold, below -2°C, before planting out from late March.

However, the winters are getting milder and plants can often become leggy. I would recommend sowing some now and some in January.

If you lift your dahlia tubers, it’s best to wait until the plants have been frosted. However, those of us that have heavy soil need to keep an eye on the weather. If, like last year, we experience prolonged heavy rainfall prior to the first frost, it might be better to get them lifted.

While we have some nice sunny days it’s a good time to have a good tidy up, but it’s also good to leave some areas untouched to give a safe haven for creatures to take shelter during the winter months.

If you intend to have a bonfire, try and avoid making a pile in advance, as creatures, such as hedgehogs, often make it their home. So build it just prior to lighting it.