NO-FEAR GARDENING

Autumn is the time to get your garden prepared for winter and to plan for next year - and save yourself some money, too! Frances Tophill explains how

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As autumn sets in, the garden begins to slow down.

But for the gardener, it is a time to step up! Autumn is one of our busiest times - whether it's clearing, propagating, starting projects, cutting back overgrown plants, weeding out thugs or making plans for next season, these are the months to start making real headway.

One great thing about this time of year is that it can give us a chance to save some money. In spring and summer, many of us visit garden centres and flower shows to get inspiration and invariably come away with lots of plants, gadgets and ornaments for the garden. Now, with careful planning, you can claw back a few pounds by using the time to take cuttings and divide your favourite plants. More savings can be made by cleaning up old pots ready to reuse and making compost from your grass clippings, weeds, vegetable scraps, paper and cardboard, so you'll have a mycelium-filled and worm-rich mulch for next year.

With time to think and plan ahead, there is even money to be saved on hard landscaping materials. Scour the internet now for recycling sites where you can find rubble, spare bricks, slabs, and even old seating and flowerpots. In summer, things can feel rushed because, as well as keeping on top of gardening tasks, we also want to enjoy our outdoor spaces there and then. But now we have the whole winter to get stuck into projects, And, of course, any money saved can go towards something big and really useful, such as growing frames or even a greenhouse. Or, if you're anything like me, even more new and interesting plants!

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