With summer almost over, it's time for gardeners across Wales to prepare for the winter shutdown. There's a huge amount of cutting, pruning and trimming to be done before the garden can be put to bed - and who better to offer help and advice than the head gardeners of Wales' National Trust properties, all in charge of some of our most spectacular and beautiful gardens.
They've got together to offer some top horticultural tips, with many giving personalised guided tours around their gardens at events organised for this autumn. It's also a chance to savour some of the stunning colours which accompany this mellow season.
A stunning change of leaf colour and a brand new gardens leaflet will greet visitors to Plas Newydd on Anglesey where head gardener John Dennis promises as much colour as in the spring from the Acers and Azaleas.
They also have an incredible 1,000 hydrangeas of the Mop-head variety, all in pink or blue, adding a huge burst of colour. But John's advice for gardeners this year has nothing to do with planting or growing.
"If you've got seats in your garden," he says, "move them around. You shouldn't just work in a garden, it's also a place to sit and relax and by rearranging the furniture, you can get a different view. " For the first time this year, guided tours are being offered around the fabulous 80-acre garden at Bodnant with head gardener Troy Smith.
"I'm delighted to be able to share the garden with visitors personally and show some of the wonderful range of trees and shrubs from Asia, China and America which come into their own during the autumn months."
Troy will be guiding visitors around the grounds followed by lunch in the pavilion tearoom on November 4.
At Powis Castle this season, Peter Hall promises you'll be greeted by a blaze of colour from the Japanese Maple trees, Smokebushes and ornamental vines. There will be a 'Leaf and Berry' tour on October 11, together with a Behind the Scenes Tour also this month, will also offer a chance to view the garden at its autumnal best. Glyn Smith is head gardener at the magnificent Erddig. He has advice for ensuring plenty of colour as the days grow cooler.
"Try growing Callicarpa in one of is many varieties. Profusion is a good one, aptly named because it produces lovely bunches of violet coloured bead- like berries. Rowans with their wonderful berries are another favourite of mine and Japanese maples look wonderful in the autumn. Virginia creeper is easy to grow and looks very effective at this time of year. Here at Erddig it scrambles over the west front of the house and glows a glorious wine red in the sun, lifting our spirits." Virginia Creeper also makes a huge impact at Penrhyn where it spreads across the whole of the castle, as it has done for generations. Mike Anderson is in charge of the grounds and suggests growing any type of red berry for colour at this time of year.
He also reveals his personal favourite. "You can keep your strawberries and passion fruit, I'd go for the mulberry every time. We've got a great example of a mature mulberry bush here at Penrhyn and it's a close competition between the staff here and the birds as to who gets the fruit first!" Other events include an opportunity to take a guided walk in the peaceful Colby Woodland Gardens on October 9, while learning about Colby's industrial past, followed by lunch in the Bothy tearoom.
Gardening remains one of the most popular hobbies in the UK and with advice from the experts at the National Trust, you could be a step ahead this autumn.