During the autumn, trees start preparing for the coming winter by hardening up new growth and, for deciduous trees, by dropping leaves to reduce moisture loss. Feed with high potash/low nitrogen mix to assist the hardening process.

Fertilise outdoor trees for the last time with a low-nitrogen feed, to harden off their growth and prepare them for the coming winter.    Give all your trees a drenching with a proprietary vine weevil drench; this is the time the young larvae are emerging and could eat all the roots during the winter.

Autumn colours for outdoor trees are at their best now. Protect your more delicate trees from cold nights.

At the end of the month, start to clean up for winter.    Remove all dead leaves, weed and remove excess moss from the surface - it could make the trees over wet in the winter.    Use a good winter tar wash such as Armillatox and spray your trees to remove algae and minimise the risk of bugs settling in corners of the pot for winter.

Bonsai, although hardy, do appreciate protection from the worst of the frost and drying winter winds from mid-November to February.    So now is the time to prepare your storage area or greenhouse.    Clean, remove debris and power-wash greenhouses and polytunnels.    A protected spot in the garden, cold frame, cold greenhouse or unheated porch can be used for winter storage; do not overprotect.    Do not bring trees into the house unless they are tropical. Bonsai need a dormant period to survive.