Monty Don urges gardeners to do 1 crucial job in gardens in September

September marks the start of autumn, and there are plenty of jobs to get done if you want your garden to be alive and flourishing during the winter months. Sharing his wisdom Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don is urging Brits to do one thing in their garden this month that will help new plants sprout and preserve tender varieties before winter hits.

The expert is telling gardeners to take cuttings which is "the gateway to producing scores of new plants for free", he says. September is a great month to take cuttings as is provides replacement plants for next spring, as well as developing root systems quickly in the autumn before the cooler weather sets in. Putting minds at ease, Monty Don says those who have not yet taken cutting before should "not be daunted".

Before you take any cuttings make sure you have a plastic bag, a sharp knife and secateurs. The bag is for placing the cut material immediately into to reduce moisture loss.

The best time to take cuttings is in the morning whilst the plant is full of moisture.

Monty Don says: "Always choose healthy, strong, straight growth for cutting material. It should be free from any flowers or flower buds. Plants like rosemary will root successfully from side shoots that have been peeled from the main stem but where there is plenty of material I prefer to take shoots with the growing tip intact.

"Once you have taken material from the plant and placed it in the polythene bag go and pot them up immediately. The quicker you can do this, the more likely you are to have success."

A stem cutting is the easiest way to establish a root to form a new plant and is best for trailing houseplants or leafy garden varieties.

For the best results, always take care to remove excess foliage, leaving just a few at the top of the stem cutting.

Once you have your cuttings make sure you water them well and keep it just moist with a daily spray which will help stop the leaves drying out before new roots have time to form.

Monty Don says: "You will know that the roots have formed when you see fresh new growth. At that point the cuttings can be removed from the pot and potted on individually before planting out next Spring.