Jobs to do this month
Flowers
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Plant tulip bulbs in pots and borders, covering them with at least twice their depth of soil or compost
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Lift dahlia tubers after the first frost, clean them off and store in dry compost in a cool, frost-proof place
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Send off for seed catalogues and start planning what to grow next year
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Plant bare-root hedging, roses, trees and shrubs, before the weather turns really cold
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Clear faded sweet peas, morning glory, thunbergia and other annual climbers from their supports
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Cut down faded perennials that are looking tatty, then mulch the surrounding soil with garden compost
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Plant a Japanese maple in a pot and place in a sheltered spot in semi-shade
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Gather up and bin the fallen leaves of roses affected by blackspot, so they don't carry the disease over to next year
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Move containers of alpine plants under cover to shelter them from winter rain
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Protect plants that are borderline hardy, such as agapanthus, with a thick mulch of straw or garden compost
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Replenish gravel mulch around alpines to keep the foliage clear of damp soil, which can cause rotting
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Put stem protection guards around young trees and shrubs, if rabbits are a problem
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Sow seeds from berry-laden trees and shrubs
Fruit and veg
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Take hardwood cuttings from healthy fruit bushes, including currants, blueberries and gooseberries
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Use cloches to protect winter peas, beans and salads, but leave the ends open as good ventilation is vital
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Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries to the ground after harvesting
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Plant garlic, shallots and onions in free-draining soil or raised beds, then cover with fleece
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Prune fruit bushes once dormant, including blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries
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Support top-heavy Brussels sprouts with sturdy canes, and pile earth up around the stems for extra stability
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Cut down Jerusalem artichokes, then dig up and store the tubers in a bucket of dry compost
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Put netting over cabbages, kale and other hardy brassicas to protect them from pigeons
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Plant bare-root fruit trees, bushes and canes, as long as the ground isn't too wet
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Check stored crops for signs of rot or deterioration
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Lift and pot up chicory roots to force in the dark
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Tidy up strawberry beds, cutting back old foliage and congested runners and removing any weeds
Greenhouse
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Insulate the greenhouse walls and roof with bubble polythene
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Make sure all tender plants are safely under cover and kept frost free
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Propagate perennials, including phlox, oriental poppies and verbascums, by taking root cuttings
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Sow leafy crops such as rocket into small seed trays on a warm sunny windowsill, for winter pickings
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Check greenhouse plants regularly for overwintering pests
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Scrub down greenhouse staging, glazing and the framework with disinfectant
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Water indoor pots of spring bulbs frequently so they never dry out
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Wash out all empty pots and trays and store neatly under greenhouse staging, ready for use in spring
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Bring potted herbs, such as parley and chives, indoors to continue cropping into winter
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Monitor greenhouse temperatures with a max-min thermometer and turn on heating if needed
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Avoid splashing foliage when watering, as it will dry slowly in cool weather and fungal diseases may set in
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Clear out faded tomato and cucumber plants from the greenhouse and add to the compost heap
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Give houseplants extra humidity to combat the drying effects of central heating