• If you have tender plants such as tree ferns, bananas, young cordylines and Japanese acers watch out for the frost which can come on suddenly and hit a garden where it hurts. Be prepared to get them covered with horticultural fleece. See Frosty Reception for more advice.

• Divide and replant hostas and hardy geraniums that have become overcrowded.

• Make sure your pots and containers are frost-resistant. It’s also a good idea to raise them on to ‘feet’ so they’re not sitting in water.

Pruning and Fertilising
• Cut back shrub roses by a third to stop them blowing about in the cold winter winds and give them a feed to give them strength over winter.

• Feed any half-hardy shrubs, this will give them more of a resistance against frost over the coming colder months

Sven Wombwell

Have you got some questions of your own that need answering? As our new resident Gardens Expert, Sven is here to answer all your gardening queries. He will select two queries a month from the Gardens Message Board so get posting.

For more information on Sven himself, check out Meet Sven Wombwell.