There are jobs to be done wherever you live, and you’ll be glad you tackled them now, come the spring.

Portugal isn’t all golden sandy beaches and war,m cloudless skies, as temperatures vary across the country, and as altitudes vary, so do soils. Knowing what to plant and when is tricky, especially for newcomers to the heat, but the weather in Portugal isn’t set in stone, so neither should your planting programme be!

Back to the chores – leaves

Sweeping up leaves is a tedious job, especially if they’re damp, and is a somewhat soul-destroying job, as you know that next week there is likely to be as much on the ground as there is today. But I find it a relaxing non-thinking job, sweeping leaves into neat piles, and seeing instant results behind you. If the leaves are free of pests and diseases, you can mulch them or add them to your compost heap and forget about them for a while.

Jobs before winter

Wherever you live here, it’s important to get out there and take care of certain things – it might be time to check out what did well this year and what didn’t, and learn from your mistakes! It may be the time to ‘hardscape’ - add in evergreens or drought-tolerant plants - to improve the look of your garden year-round. And bring in those garden tools for the winter - clean, sharpen and oil them, making them ready for the spring.

Pruning

Autumn is a suitable time for pruning certain shrubs, particularly those that bloom on old wood or benefit from being tidied up before winter. It’s generally recommended to prune after flowering or before new buds swell.

Keep up the watering schedule if the expected rains don’t appear, especially for any plants, trees, or shrubs that are newly planted. Use ‘grey’ water where you can – saving the runoff from the shower while waiting for the water to heat is ideal.

Bulbs and wildflowers

This is the time to think about planting spring bulbs - check planting times in the store when buying them, and sow some wildflower seeds in those out-of-the-way places the hose doesn’t reach! When they sprout in the spring, hopefully, there will be enough rain and moderate temperatures for them to thrive unaided.

Grass

Tip for grass – mow less, aerate and weed vigilantly. Don’t fertilise too early, as grass is dormant during the winter and won’t absorb any of those valuable nutrients; all you will be doing is feeding those every-hungry weeds.

Autumn is generally considered a lovely time to explore Portugal as the weather is mild and pleasant, with fewer crowds than the summer months, so leave the garden tidy, and free up some time to see the country’s diverse landscapes, enjoy outdoor activities, and particularly enjoy the many local festivals.