Berries have always been popular, the UK strawberry industry alone reporting that it is expecting to smash its sales by £50m this year.

They definitely are a favourite in my household, my daughter will always choose berries over any other fruit so I’ve decided to increase the amount I grow.

However, my strawberries didn’t amount too much this year so they are being given the boot!

Four years is generally the length of productive life for a strawberry. After fruiting they put their energy into producing runners, these long shoots with plantlets spaced along the length of them will root into any soil they touch.

You can then cut the plants away from the parent plant and plant them out individually, spaced 30cm apart, into a fresh bed which should have plenty of compost added. Remember, strawberries are greedy feeders, water and mulch well - keeping your stock replenished and refreshed! If you are starting afresh growing strawberries try these varieties...

Cambridge Favourite for a bumper crop of mid-season orange-red fruits.

Florence for a late season harvest of sweet strawberries

Flamenco to provide you with these delicious fruits from May until November

Get planning

September always brings a feeling of starting afresh, perhaps it’s the new school term or the end of the summer holidays but either way it's a good time to get your teeth into a new project in the garden.

As well as cutting back and tidying, I use this time of year to reflect and assess how my garden has worked for me over the summer?

Our gardens can be thought of as an extension of our home entertaining area - a ‘living’ living room - so perhaps we need to address them like we would a room that needs decorating. Would I like to change anything for next summer? More shading? A new patio? A water feature perhaps?

September is the time to get those ideas down and start the ball rolling while they are fresh in your mind. That way they will all be done in good time to enjoy next year.

A top tip

I know watering hasn’t been quite so urgent with all the rain we have had lately but when you do have to water add high potash fertilizer to harden plants for the winter and encourage strong healthy future growth.

This can be done by either liquid feeds in hanging baskets and pots or granule form at the base of plants in borders to allow the plant to take it up gradually whilst it is still growing.