If your garden furniture has worked hard all summer, give it a little attention before the weather turns.

Start by cleaning away dirt, leaves and debris, then make sure furniture is completely dry before covering or storing it. This helps reduce the build-up of moisture during the wetter months.

If you are leaving furniture outside, a well-fitting garden furniture cover can help protect it from rain, dirt and fallen leaves. Choose the right size for your dining set, sofa, chairs or benches and secure the cover properly so autumn winds cannot lift it.

Cushions and other soft furnishings are best stored somewhere dry where possible

Autumn leaves can quickly collect on lawns, paths, patios and around pots. Regularly clearing them keeps your outside space looking tidy and can make paths less slippery in wet weather.

A garden leaf grabber and sturdy garden bags are useful for gathering leaves and general garden waste.

It is also worth clearing paths and patios of moss, dirt and debris before winter. Staying on top of smaller maintenance jobs throughout autumn means there is less to tackle once spring arrives.

Windier weather can expose any weak points in your garden, so take a walk around the boundary before winter sets in. Look for loose fence panels, damaged posts, gaps and sections that are starting to move. Small repairs made now could save you from replacing a whole panel after the first big storm.

Check that fence posts, screening and trellis are firmly fixed and tighten or replace fittings where required. If you have added decorative screening for privacy, make sure it is securely attached and does not have loose sections that could catch the wind.

If your fencing is already showing its age, autumn is also a useful time to plan repairs or replacement before next spring.

One of the most useful autumn jobs is also one that can help your future summer garden.

With wetter weather on the way, installing a water butt allows you to collect rainwater from your roof rather than letting it run away. By storing water through wetter periods, you can build up a useful supply for pots, planters and garden plants when drier weather returns.

With warmer summers and hosepipe restrictions becoming more familiar in the UK, making better use of the rain that naturally falls on your garden is a simple way to prepare ahead.

Already have a water butt? Give it a quick check. Make sure the lid is secure, clear leaves from the guttering and check that the diverter and connections are working properly.

If you have space, consider connecting more than one water butt to increase your storage capacity.

Finally, take some time to gather up the things that tend to get left around the garden.

Clean and store tools, tidy away unused accessories and move anything lightweight that could be blown around during strong winds. Garden storage boxes and outdoor stores are useful for keeping everything protected but still easy to find when you need it again.