'I'm a gardening expert – there's things you must do now while weather is colder'

You might think with the chill setting in, your duties are over, but there's plenty to do to prep for a blooming spring 2025.

It's November already, and Michael from , known as @themediterraniangardener, has some essential tasks for you. Nail these, and not only will your garden look better now, but you'll also be patting yourself on the back next year.

He suggests now is the moment to plant "tulips in lasagnas, pots and borders as the weather starts to get colder". He also cautioned: "You also want to lift dahlia tubers and store them in a dry, frost-proof place."

If you've got empty pots, Michael advises "it's the perfect time to add some colour into your gardens with violas, heathers, conifers and hardy tub plants" that will endure through the seasons.

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And with fallen leaves likely carpeting your garden, don't just chuck them in the green bin as Michael recommends that you "collect them up off your lawns which you can then keep to make leaf mould".

Now's also the prime time to bring in your garden furniture cushions to avoid damage from "damaged in freezing temperatures when wet". Plus, if you're not keen on battling weeds in spring, get ahead of the game and deal with them now, despite the cooler weather.

"Tackling them in autumn will reduce weed problems in spring," he urged, so it's best to get it done now if you want your garden to be ready to go in springtime.

Finally, the last thing you can sort out in your garden before snow and ice sets in is "once the birds have feasted on the seeds, cut down faded perennials that are looking tatty, then mulch the surrounding soil".

However, some commenters pointed out the weather is still relatively mild, so these tasks could potentially be delayed until it gets colder.

One person asked: "My Dahlias are still flowering. Do I leave them until they have finished or take them out now?" Another replied: "I've got the same, as we are still getting temperatures of 15 deg C. Seems wrong to cut off the flowers and dig them up."

A seasoned gardener shared their expertise, writing: "I don't tend to uplift clients' Dahlias unless they're in a high risk area. Front pocket or flooding risk. If I do lift them wait till the first frost. It's still warm for the season!"

A commenter from Norway mentioned they already had snow, making it impossible to follow these tips due to the weather conditions. One woman expressed gratitude, saying: "This is great advice for beginners, thank you."