Growing tipsRake up fallen leaves and cut the grass for the last time and compost. Cover the compost bin to keep the rain out and the heat in.

Do a final weed. Prick the soil through with a fork to aerate whilst the weather is warm and dry. Adding a layer of bark will keep the ground at an even temperature and stop the ground getting too cold over the winter months.

October is the time to plan and plant. French onion sets, broad beans or floral displays for crocus, daffodil and tulip. Twelve inches below the surface is the standard planting depth for flowering bulbs, but follow grower instructions on the pack.

When planting trees in lawns, loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole, chop up the turf and put in to the bottom. Fill with a tree planting compost such as Greentop Soil Booster with a mix of the existing soil.

Digging over flower beds to enable air to circulate undoubtedly helps plant performance, while a few wheelbarrow loads of rich, organic conditioning compost like Greentop Soil Improver adds valuable nutrients to the soil for optimum plant display.

Once the appropriate depth hole is prepared, a good lining of compost (and a smattering of sand if you suffer from poor drainage) will give even reluctant bulbs a good head start for Spring.