Autumn is with us and Nymans is ablaze with burnt reds and fiery oranges. The acers in the Pinetum, with their blood red foliage, form a startling juxtaposition against the sombre ever-green conifers. Our enkianthus too are unrivalled for their autumn colour.

It’s not just the trees that are stealing the show though. For a last perennial flourish before winter, the asters throughout the garden are putting on a stunning display, brightening up the borders with their soft purple hues.

There’s a lot to be getting on with at this time of year. Leaf collecting is a priority. Though it’s tempting to leave the wind to blow them away, your garden will benefit from collecting them, as leaves that sit too long on the lawn will cause it to yellow. Also worms use leaves as a source of food and will pull them into their burrows, creating unsightly worm casts on the surface of the lawn. The leaf litter you collect can be stored in bin liners with a few holes poked in them. This will encourage them to break down quickly and next year you will have a deluxe soil improver full of nutrients to put on your beds.

Autumn is the time for bulb planting and it’s a great way to add swathes of spring colour throughout your borders. You don’t need lots of room to grow bulbs though – showstoppers such as daffodils, tulips and alliums create a stunning display when grown in pots, just remember to water them regularly when they’re growing.

Now that many plants have finished for the season you can cut back ones that have died down. However, plants that hold their seed heads can be left as they will provide food for seed-eating birds and habitats for smaller animals. They look great in the autumn light too.

Summer may be over but there’s still plenty to do at Nymans. Come and join us this weekend for our Woodland Festival – there’ll be traditional woodland craft demonstrations and fun activities for all the family today and tomorrow from 10am to 4pm.