By KIERAN GALLAGHER from Cardwell Nurseries

Now that October's first snap of cold weather is on us we can afford a few moments to reflect on the season passed.

All said, the weather was quite kind to gardeners and bedding plants and perennials alike have prospered in the warm weather. Trees and shrubs in my own garden have grown more than I would have expected during this hot spell and it is important not to let them get out of control.

Autumn is a great time for pruning and for a general clean up throughout the garden. Most trees, hedges and shrubs can be pruned at this time of year, once all flowering and growth are finished. Check your gardening books or local garden centre for advice on individual varieties and those that are best left until spring before any pruning.

The summer bedding plants have taken a hit this week with high winds and cold nights, so if your bedding and baskets are looking poor then it is time to remove them.

Assuming the plants are not diseased you can either compost them in your own bin or put them in to your council brown bin. The compost they were planted in can also be recycled, but should not be used again for planting as all the nutrients are now used up.

The holes left by taking your bedding out can be replaced with either winter bedding or autumn flowering bulbs which can be bought in garden centres in pots. When you are buying your winter bedding be sure and buy good quality and make sure it is hardy for our weather. Some of the major garden centre chains source their plants from England or abroad, and this is fine as long you harden the plants off prior to planting. Here at Cardwell we buy from Scottish growers so you can plant straight away without worrying about a little overnight frost.

It is not too late to plant spring flowering bulbs in your garden. A little work here can create beautiful displays of colour in the garden at the very start of the next season.

It is worth looking at your grass just now. The chances are you are not cutting the grass anymore and a treatment of autumn lawn food will help the lawn to stand up to the harsh winter weather. This means less work for you in spring.

Before winter hits too hard it is a good idea to empty any water out of your garden hose or water feature. Garden taps should also be protected