Gardeners urged to do one thing this weekend to reap benefits next spring

Spring feels like it's a very long time away. 

The temperatures outside have taken a decidedly autumnal turn - and the leaves will soon be falling as fast as the mercury has done. However, your future self will thank you if you spare a thought for next spring in the garden this weekend.

September might be time to harvest fruits, such as apples and pears - but it's also time to put in some literal groundwork, to ensure your garden bursts back into life when this coming winter is over.

Flowering bulbs need to go in the ground as temperatures start to fall, but before frosts start, the Royal Horticultural Society says. So this weekend is the perfect time to get out and plant some spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths.

If plant in borders and pots now, these bulbs will burst out of flower beds in early spring - while much of the rest of your garden is still waking up. Tulips need planting a little later and are best left until November, says the Royal Horticultural Society.

However, this weekend is also a good time to plant hardy summer-flowering bulbs - such as lilies, alliums and crocosmia. Most hardy bulbs, like a nice warm and sunny site, with good drainage.

Try to plant bulbs in groups of at least six, for fuller flower displays. Generally, between 25 to 50 bulbs will be needed for a good show.

Firstly, dig a hole wide and deep enough for your bulbs - and plant them at two to three times their depth. They should be planted roots down, with their ‘nose’ - the shoot - facing upwards.

Leave a space at least twice the bulb’s own width between each planted bulb. Cover them with soil, gently firming the ground - but don't tread on the earth, as this can damage the delicate bulbs. Water straight after planting, unless the soil is already moist.

Bulbs are also brilliant in pots and containers. For single-season displays, use a mix of three parts multi-purpose compost with one part grit.

For long-term container displays, try a mix of three parts John Innes No 2 compost and one part grit. Plant the bulbs a little deeper, but closer together than you would in a flower bed - three times their depth and one bulb width apart should do the trick.

Water them once you've potted them - and regularly when in active growth. However, its best to reduce watering once the leaves start to die down and then through the dormant season.

That said, you want to ensure your pots do not dry out completely during the winter. During growing season, feed the bulbs every seven to ten days with a high-potassium fertiliser - such as a liquid tomato feed.