WE are now approaching the middle of October and although we have enjoyed something of an Indian summer in the last few weeks, autumn is most certainly here.

Leaves on the trees are turning, the nights are getting cold and daylight hours are getting shorter all the time.

The warm weather we have enjoyed recently can be misleading.

I am a dog owner and have noticed in recent weeks the night time temperatures have dropped significantly.

So what does this mean for your garden?

The first thing you will see is that any summer bedding plants you still have will start to wane.

You might get another two-three weeks from them, but it is worth thinking about what will replace them in your borders or tubs.

Autumn and winter bedding is quite easy to buy now, but be careful you are not buying the last of the summer bedding plants that growers will be keen to move on.

There are a lot of different things you can plant in autumn, the most obvious being winter pansies or violas. The great thing about these two varieties are that the flowers themselves can take quite cold temperatures, so the odd cold snap overnight will not spoil your plants.

Bellis Perrenial daisies, wallflower, primroses and even cyclamen are all ideal for colour in the garden and all will take the lower temperatures without too much trouble.

Here at Cardwell we also import some stock from Holland and the most eyecatching of these is the autumn Chrysanthemum.

These tend to be large spheres that are just full of flowers and are quite stunning.

The impact they can have in a tub or border is instant and very effective.

These are half hardy plants which means they can take some cold weather, but really need protection from frost.

Many of your garden plants will benefit from some pretection over the harshest of the winter months.

There are lots of different materials that can be used here, but not everything is suitable.

In general, frost protection fleece is as good as anything else.

It is designed for the job, after all.

This thin material allows some air to pass through, stopping fungal infections, and when wrapped several times around your prized plants the material forms layers of insulation.

It is cheap and very effective.

Alternatives include bubble wrap and good old straw which can be tied around stems and bushes.

Beware that materials that cannot allow some air to pass through can cause infections.

To avoid this, unwrap your plants now and again to allow fresh air to circulate.

There are a couple of things to do in the garden at this time of year.

Autumn is also the best time of year for planting trees and fruit trees.

We have a full range of fresh stock at Cardwell or your local garden centre should also be able to help.

Spring bulbs should be purchased now for planting in the near future as well as prepared Hyacinths and Amaryllis for Christmas.

Your lawn will benefit greatly from an autumn treatment.

If you have not used this product before make sure to read the packaging carefully or seek help from your garden centre assistant.

The autumn lawn food differs from the spring and summer version in that the autumn food will not make your grass grow – it makes the roots grow, so your lawn actually strengthens over winter and needs less maintenance in spring.

This is the last of my columns for the Times this year and I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enojoyed sharing them with you.