Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton have delayed setting up for Christmas to give gardeners the chance to make the most of autumn, and are offering freed advice on planting.

Andrew Pitman, Plant Managerat the independent, family-run garden centre, explained: “We’re backing the Horticultural Trades Association’s campaign to make autumn special and doing our own celebration of the season by hosting a free Autumn Planting Advice Weekend on October 27 and 28.

“During the past decade all the focus has been on spring planting but autumn is actually a better time to plant many shrubs, trees and fruit bushes and canes as the soil is still warm and moist. Therefore plants can establish ready for next year, before the winter sets in.

“A recent HTA survey suggests gardeners have forgotten autumn. This year with the drought in the spring and the rain in the summer it’s now time to embrace autumn gardening. Gardeners need to be aware that they don’t need to wait until spring to do some planting.”

Andrew added: “We’re delaying bringing in some of our Christmas stock to give people a chance to enjoy the autumn and its mist and mellow fruitfulness first.

“Autumn is a lovely time in the garden centre, with the changing of the season we top up with lots of lovely fresh new plants, looking great ready for planting in your garden.

“Now in stock are a fabulous array of late flowering hardy plants, colourful berries, wonderful autumn tints and bright evergreen shrubs.”

For more information visit www.monktonelmgardencentre.co.uk