Key task gardeners need to do in October to get loads of new free flowers next year

There is always so much to do in the during the Autumn, all of which will help make sure that everything is prepped and primed ahead of and get you the best results next spring when things finally warm up. From some essential lawn maintenance and much-needed TLC to your beds and borders to promote soil health, all the way to planting spring bulbs - it can feel like the list of jobs you have to do in your outside space is a bit never-ending.

Despite what a busy time of year it is for the green-fingered out there, there is one job you should absolutely never miss out on if you're passionate about gorgeous blooms - especially if you are keeping a keen eye on your bank balance at the moment - splitting plants.

This task, recommended by many gardening experts, can provide you with an extra flush of gorgeous flowers next year - and the best part is, it will cost you absolutely nothing. This is because you are using what perennial flowers you already have in your garden and simply multiplying them by splitting them.

just why this time of year is such a good moment for splitting perennials, which are those flowers that come back each year: "In autumn, plants can take advantage of the warm, damp soil, to get their roots established, ready to grow away strongly the following year."

Many gardening experts recommend this practice, and Gardener's World has noted that it's an incredible way to fill any gaps in your beds and borders, without having to spend a penny - which if you were looking for an excuse to pay a visit to your local garden centre, may come as a disappointment.

You can divide summer flowering perennial plants in either the autumn, or the spring, but you should never tackle this in the heat of summer or the frosty winter when the temperature is just too extreme in either direction for the plants. If any of your plants are particularly tender, then it may well be better to leave the division until springtime, - or if it has been unseasonably rainy.

The "If some of your perennial flowers are doing well and have formed big clumps, you can lift them now and split them into sections. You can then replant one section back in the same spot and put another elsewhere in the garden or gift it to friends.

"This works best with tough, cold-tolerant perennials such as geraniums, lungwort, lady's mantle, astrantia, and phlox."

You can also split Bergenia, aster, lily of the valley, primrose, verbena, agapanthus, asters, delphinium - and many, many more perennial flowers. Generally, all perennials should be lifted and divided every two to three years to keep them as healthy as possible and encourage strong growth - the RHS explains - but if you are passionate about having as many free flowers as possible, you can do it every year if you like.

Gardener's World explained that the process is pretty simple with most perennials, "Perennial plants that grow in a clump are easy to propagate by division. The clump can be teased apart or chopped up using a sharp knife or a spade. It may look brutal, but it helps rejuvenate plants and increase the vigour of the original plant – as well as giving you new plants for free."

However, if you aren't totally confident about splitting your perennials, or are quite new to gardening, it's probably best to look up a guide to any specific plants you are keen to divide.

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

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