Plant some summer bedding

Mimic their natural behaviour and get them going now to flower in spring

REAL readers' gardens!

HOW TO GET GREENER...

Keep autumn at bay with splashes of colour and flowering perennials, says Joe Swift

Enjoy the hip parade

September is a sweet spot for gardeners. There might not be the frenzied burst of activity you see in spring or the bold drama of midsummer in full bloom, says Martyn Cox , but there’s plenty to do before the colder months come round