Now in October is a great time to move plants and work on the borders. The summer is over and there is less worry about trampling on emerging plants and new shoots  as the garden is dying back and winding down for the winter. Its a suitable time to divide herbaceous perennials which can become congested over time and flower less and less. This photograph is of a Hemerocallis, Day Lily, and the roots are packed. Lifting it onto a tarpaulin gives space to attack it with a saw to break up the root and replant several pieces spaced apart. Hopefully next year it may produce more flowers.

Hard though it is, if a plants not thriving or just the wrong plant, after looking at it  all summer now is the time to be bold and dig it out either replanting or abandoning to the green bin. A white Phlox went that way this weekend and its only crime was it was too big and white was wrong in that spot  which needs a strong colour. It had been there maybe 4 years but no more.

As the garden winds down now is a good time to think about next year. Taking photographs of the garden can help to remind you in the winter months what was floweringwhen, and  where, and next  to which plant, to decide if a plant is in the wrong place or needs another companion. It isn't the case that plants get planted only once; in the Sunday Garden some plants get move several times trying to get the balance right, which is not easy.

Enthusiasm runs away and plants get put into the border, sometimes forgetting what may surround them. If its in the wrong place move it. There are some plants that dislike being moved, such as Paeony, and well established shrubs may resent it but many plants can be easily moved before they become too mature. Now is a good time to move plants before the winter or in the early spring if the ground is  not frozen.  You can re design your garden and don't be afraid to move things around.  If a much loved plant has become overgrown, or leggy or lost its vigour, you can consider pruning to rejuvenate but its going to take time; maybe now is the time to compost it and get another.

Some plants are quite short lived and can become leggy and less attractive, Lavender is just such a plant lasting up to 10 years in the best growing conditions but it can look woody, get extensive winter die back in a bad winter and often its best to replace. Obviously buying new plants is one option, but as the garden matures, taking from cuttings is a good ideas as lavender root really well and these plants can be grow on as replacements .

As the annual plant catalogues arrive now is  a good time to sit back and reflect;  and plan next years changes, and challenges.

Its great to see wildlife in the garden and there's no doubt a pond is the main attraction. Over the years as the pond matures more and more wildlife are drawn to it and soon its full of frogs, pond skaters,  dragonflies, damselflies,  birds drinking and washing in the shallows.

The elegant Heron trying to get a look in and most beatiful and rare of all, a Kingfisher. Perched on the very poles designed to keep the Heron at bay eyeing up the gold fish and then swooping down for its catch, fantastic!

for ideas on which plants and shrubs to grow to attract wildlife into our garden follow this link

 For more about growing onions

and garlic