Mid Autumn Calender

Lawns Lay turf for new lawns.  Increase height of mower blades for cutting. Keep lawn from debris. Top dress with sand.

Trees and shrubs Plant deciduous and evergreen shrubs. Also plant trees (not conifers); protect in exposed sites with protection sheeting and canes.  Prune conifers.  Take hardwood cuttings of all shrubs.

Roses Plant at end of month.  Take cuttings of all species, ramblers, and some floribunda roses.

Perennials Tidy borders,  cut back plants and remove old stems and leaves.  Divide and replant overgrown perennials that have finished flowering.  Scatter organic slug pellets before slugs start laying eggs.  Lift stools of outdoor-flowering chrysanthemums and store in boxes of old soil in cold frames or greenhouses. Bring in tender plants.

Annuals Finish clearing annuals.

Bienniels Complete planting of forget-me-nots, wallflowers, pansies, Canterbury bells and sweet Williams.

Bulbs Continue planting spring-flowering bulbs such as snowdrops,  Iris reticulata,  miniature daffodils, crocus and chionodoxa.  Tulips can be left until late autumn.  Divide  overgrown clumps of lilies;  cut off stems when they begin to fade.  Feed bearded irises with potash.  Cut down dahlias,  lift tubers and store.  Cut down stems of gladioli,  lift, and store in a frost-free place.

Fruit Start planting new fruit bushes and trees.  Take hardwood cuttings of gooseberries.

Vegetables Sow more winter lettuces.  Cover carrots sown in late summer with cloches.  Feed Brussels sprouts and winter cabbages.  Draw soil up stems of Brussels sprouts.  Pick off yellowing cabbage leaves.  Gather last runner beans and marrows before the frosts set in and clear away plants.  Lift last of maincrop potatoes.  Dig up maincrop carrots, swedes and turnips.

Herbs Raise new plants of lemon balm by division.  Plant tarragon.  For a winter supply,  sow chervil under glass and pot some roots of mint,  placing them in a sunny window.