Finish planting pansies, wallflowers, forget-me-nots and primulas, they need to be in by early November.

Also plant tulip bulbs in containers indoors or outdoors.

Fallen leaves within plants provide a great hiding place for slugs and snails, so if you don't want your plants eaten by these creatures remove the leaves from the plant borders.

Although most perennial plants are hardy when it comes to cold and frosty weather some are not, including shrubs and evergreens. Frost on the ground can kill them. To make sure they survive, place at least 5cm of mulch around the base to protect the crowns and roots. You can use straw or wood chips. Hardy fuchsias and ceanothus definitely need protection. Tender fuchsias, argyranthemums and geraniums need to be brought into a frost-proof environment before they are damaged by frost.