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Edible Garden

Summer vege crops will be coming to an end. As they do, it is a perfect time to dig over the ground in preparation for new winter crops. Add in ican Premium Compost and follow with a dressing of garden lime. Do this several weeks before fertilising and planting new seedlings.

Empty vegetable garden beds can be protected and enriched with a green crop. Sow seed of either lupin, barley, oats or mustard. 

Plant hardy greens such as kale, silver beet, spinach, pak choi, mizuna, lamb's lettuce and mustard, for winter pickings. Plant seedlings of leeks, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts for late winter and spring crops.

Brassica (the cabbage family) crops are under attack from white butterfly. Spray with Mavrik at the first sign of caterpillars or protect from the butterflies with fine mesh netting.

Pot up herbs, such as chives, thyme and parsley, and place in a sunny spot to use during winter

Trim off any leaves covering the fruits of pumpkins and squash to help the skins ripen in the sun.

Cut off trusses of unripe outdoor tomatoes before the weather turns cold, and ripen them indoors

Lift maincrop potatoes, spread out to dry, then store in hessian or paper sacks, in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place.

Kumara are best harvested when the tops start to yellow, or on the day of the first frost, and leave to dry in the sun.

Remove runners from strawberry plants and pot up into strawberry mix to plant out in winter.

Feed citrus plants this month - apply ican Fruit Food out to the drip line of the tree and water in well afterwards.

Prune out all the fruited canes of summer raspberries, cutting down to the base, and tie in new canes to supports.

Prune back excessive leaves on grapevines to expose ripening fruit to the sun, and cover with netting to protect your crop from birds.

Finish summer pruning of stonefruit (peaches, plums, apricots), removing any dead or diseased wood and prune to an open shape. 

To plant new fruit trees, prepare new planting spots that are in full sun, with ican Premium Planting Mix and Compost. Use ican Slow Food as a base fertiliser when planting. 

Ornamental Garden

Sow seeds or plant seedlings of winter flowers like pansy, viola, primula, polyanthus, calendula, cineraria, poppies, lobelia, alyssum and snapdragon. Use Black Magic Seed Raising Mix for best results when sowing seeds. 

Plant up the garden and containers for autumn interest, using cyclamen, heucheras and other colourful bedding plants. A handful of dried blood around your seedlings will do wonders for them, especially polyanthus and pansies.

Dried blood is a rich and natural source of nitrogen and iron. It will boost the performance of winter flowering plants such as polyanthus, primula, pansies, violas and cyclamen. It can also encourage rapid growth in green leafy vegetables. Apply 30g per sq metre or a teaspoon around individual plants or in the planting hole. Water in well and wash any product off the plant foliage. 

Lift, divide and replant congested clumps of perennials, such as achilleas, once they finish flowering. Fill any gaps with late-flowering perennials, such as sedums, to provide nectar for pollinating insects into autumn

Take cuttings from favourite perennials and shrubs, using rooting hormone powder or gel, and planting into Black Magic Seed Raising Mix.

Keep summer bedding flowering in hanging baskets and pots until the first frosts by deadheading and feeding regularly with ican Fast Food

Sow sweet peas for continuous winter flowering. Plant in free draining soil, well-prepared with ican Premium Compost and a sprinkling of lime. Soak seeds overnight to soften their hard skin and speed up germination.

Summer is tough on lawns. Control weeds and give the lawn a quick green up with Weed & Feed. Autumn is the ideal season to repair, renew or sow new lawns. As the days cool, growth slows so lift the mower blade and avoid watering in the evening to prevent fungal attack. 

Stop deadheading roses now and let hips develop for winter colour. Apply sulphate of potash now which will help new wood to harden before winter. Continue to spray to control  pests and diseases with Combat 3 in 1 for Roses. 

All of the favourite spring flowering bulbs are now in store. Plant now in the garden with a dressing of ican Real Blood & Bone, or in pots with ican Premium Potting Mix or bulb potting mix  plus ican Slow Food. Existing bulbs in the garden will be starting to grow so feed with ican Bulb Food.

Most spring bulbs can be planted in pots to enjoy anywhere they can be seen from the house, and even inside when in flower. Plant in layers, closely packed with the biggest bulbs the deepest, for a spectacular display. Keep the pot outside in a cool spot until flower buds are showing when they can be brought forward to display or enjoy inside. 

Plant hyacinth bulbs in Hyacinth "Jars". Place outdoors to grow - if you have them inside they will become leggy and soft. Once the bulbs start to flower in spring bring them in to enjoy their colour and perfume in the house.

Soak anemone and ranunculus corms in tepid water before sowing in Black Magic Seed Raising Mix for reliable germination.

Trim and deadhead ornamental trees and shrubs, and feed with ican Slow Food. Trim hedges this month to allow new growth before winter. Young shoots provide rich winter colour.

Make the most of the best growing conditions of the year and plant a hedge. Why go to the expense of builders and 'hard landscaping' when a living fence can deliver attractive privacy and structure to your garden. Prepare the planting site with ican Premium Planting Mix and plant each shrub with a half handful of ican Slow Food.

With Autumn rain comes slugs and snails, the main pest of emerging bulbs and new seedlings. Use Quash or Blitzem slug and snail pellets to control them. 

Autumn is ideal to plant new trees, shrubs and perennials. Help them along by planting with ican Premium Planting Mix and ican Slow Food.

Stop weeds from seeding by pulling them out, smothering them with mulch or spraying with low-toxic Zero glyphosate.