Overview

• Make a final mow and apply autumn lawn fertilizer, keep grass leaf‑free to prevent rot, and favor raking over leaf blowers to protect overwintering insects and hedgehogs.
• Cut hedges now that the nesting ban has ended, inspect trees and fences for storm risks, and note that poor tree maintenance can jeopardize insurance cover in a damage event.
• Drain hoses, rain barrels, outdoor pipes, meters and pumps, shut off exterior water supplies, and clean, service and store tools and greenhouses for winter.
• Lift and store tender bulbs and tubers such as dahlias, gladioli, freesias and begonias by late October or after the first frost, protect container plants, and tie ornamental grasses.
• Remove diseased ‘fruit mummies’ from infected trees to limit fungal spread, keep walkways clear of slippery leaves, and plant hardy shrubs, roses and fruit trees now for a spring head start.