Deadhead roses Give roses a final deadheading when the blooms have faded and shorten tall stems slightly to reduce wind rock. However, leave those that have developed hips for some extra autumn colour. Stem cuttings Take stem cuttings of roses in early September by pushing cut stems straight into the soil in a nursery area of the garden, where they can be left to root and develop for about a year. Most types of rose can be propagated from cuttings, especially the rambling types. Just take a length of stem, removing the soft tip above a leaf joint, and cut below a joint at the base, removing all but the top three leaves.
Trim hedges Give conifers and other evergreen hedges a trim.
This will ensure a neat outline to hedges for the winter. Most hedge clippings can be shredded and composted with other garden waste, although they do take some time to rot down. Ariadne' and L . Plant them in trays of compost to let them develop into new plants. Gladioli Enjoy gladioli spikes in the garden or cut them for displays in the house.