Try layering a shrub

With AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes

Save seeds from the heads of grasses that may not survive the winter. Ornamental grasses such as pennisetum are marginally tender and particularly susceptible to frost damage when grown in heavy soil.

In your flower garden

Throughout August I cut the box hedges that give shape to the vegetable garden. They’re just under waist height but that’s enough to protect most plants from the wind and they are a good dark backgrou

Once your plants are spent, give them a tidy and create more plants too

Brighten up the season with a collection of cheerful, chirpy and colourful containers